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Ather M, Ejaz O, Rao AZ, Mujib MD, Raees F, Qazi SA, Hasan MA. Efficacy of audiovisual neurofeedback training for attention enhancement: a multimodal approach. Neuroreport 2024; 35:721-728. [PMID: 38874941 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000002063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Attention is a cognitive process that involves focusing mental resources on specific stimuli and plays a fundamental role in perception, learning, memory, and decision-making. Neurofeedback (NF) is a useful technique for improving attention, providing real-time feedback on brain activity in the form of visual or auditory cues, and allowing users to learn to self-regulate their cognitive processes. This study compares the effectiveness of different cues in NF training for attention enhancement through a multimodal approach. We conducted neurological (Quantitative Electroencephalography), neuropsychological (Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale-15), and behavioral (Stroop test) assessments before and after NF training on 36 healthy participants, divided into audiovisual (G1) and visual (G2) groups. Twelve NF training sessions were conducted on alternate days, each consisting of five subsessions, with pre- and post-NF baseline electroencephalographic evaluations using power spectral density. The pre-NF baseline was used for thresholding the NF session using the beta frequency band power. Two-way analysis of variance revealed a significant long-term effect of group (G1/G2) and state (before/after NF) on the behavioral and neuropsychological assessments, with G1 showing significantly higher Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale-15 scores, higher Stroop scores, and lower Stroop reaction times for interaction effects. Moreover, unpaired t -tests to compare voxel-wise standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography images revealed higher activity of G1 in Brodmann area 40 due to NF training. Neurological assessments show that G1 had better improvement in immediate, short-, and long-term attention. The findings of this study offer a guide for the development of NF training protocols aimed at enhancing attention effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Ather
- Neurocomputation Laboratory, NED University of Engineering & Technology
| | - Osama Ejaz
- Neurocomputation Laboratory, NED University of Engineering & Technology
| | - Ahmad Zahid Rao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, NED University of Engineering & Technology
| | | | - Faryal Raees
- Neurocomputation Laboratory, NED University of Engineering & Technology
- Department of Surgery, The Aga Khan University Hospital
| | - Saad Ahmed Qazi
- Neurocomputation Laboratory, NED University of Engineering & Technology
- Department of Electrical Engineering, NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Abul Hasan
- Neurocomputation Laboratory, NED University of Engineering & Technology
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, NED University of Engineering & Technology
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Rao AZ, Danish Mujib M, Abul Hasan M, Alokaily AO, Tahira T, Qazi SA. User Perspectives and Psychophysiological Manifestations of Fatigue with Trunk Orthosis for Dystrophinopathy Patients. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:780. [PMID: 39199738 PMCID: PMC11351144 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11080780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The chair-mounted passive trunk orthosis (CMPTO) is designed to enhance wheelchair safety for individuals with dystrophinopathy during their daily activities. Given the disease's progressive nature, it is crucial to ensure that assistive devices are carefully evaluated to prevent overexertion. This study aims to assess the CMPTO's user experience and its impact on fatigue-related psychophysiological measurements. We conducted electromyography (EMG) evaluations of four trunk muscles and assessed perceived exertion using the Borg CR-10 scale in 40 healthy subjects while they performed seated maximal reaching tasks with the CMPTO. Additionally, fifteen dystrophinopathy patients evaluated the CMPTO for usability with the System Usability Scale. Paired t-tests were employed to compare the median frequency (MDF) of EMG signals, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for evaluating exertion, and the Mann-Whitney U test to compare the usability reported by patients to those of healthy subjects. The 4-way ANOVA revealed that MDF patterns were significantly influenced by task orientation for each muscle. The CMPTO did not cause a significant reduction in the MDF. Tasks requiring greater trunk rotation were perceived as more exhaustive. Patients reported acceptable usability with the CMPTO, with scores higher than those of healthy subjects. The CMPTO's usability was comprehensively evaluated in both healthy subjects and patients with dystrophinopathy. Our findings indicate that the CMPTO can be safely used by individuals with dystrophinopathy as an assistive device to improve seated comfort and functional abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Zahid Rao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi 75270, Pakistan; (M.D.M.); (M.A.H.)
| | - Muhammad Danish Mujib
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi 75270, Pakistan; (M.D.M.); (M.A.H.)
| | - Muhammad Abul Hasan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi 75270, Pakistan; (M.D.M.); (M.A.H.)
- Neurocomputation Lab, National Center of Artificial Intelligence, Islamabad 75270, Pakistan;
| | - Ahmad O. Alokaily
- Department of Biomedical Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
- King Salman Center for Disability Research, Riyadh 11614, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tayyaba Tahira
- Operative Dentistry and Endodontics Department, Dow International Dental College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi 74200, Pakistan;
| | - Saad Ahmed Qazi
- Neurocomputation Lab, National Center of Artificial Intelligence, Islamabad 75270, Pakistan;
- Department of Electrical Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
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Mujib MD, Rao AZ, Hasan MA, Ikhlaq A, Shahid H, Bano N, Mustafa MU, Mukhtar F, Nisa M, Qazi SA. Comparative Neurological and Behavioral Assessment of Central and Peripheral Stimulation Technologies for Induced Pain and Cognitive Tasks. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1269. [PMID: 38927476 PMCID: PMC11201146 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Pain is a multifaceted, multisystem disorder that adversely affects neuro-psychological processes. This study compares the effectiveness of central stimulation (transcranial direct current stimulation-tDCS over F3/F4) and peripheral stimulation (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation-TENS over the median nerve) in pain inhibition during a cognitive task in healthy volunteers and to observe potential neuro-cognitive improvements. Eighty healthy participants underwent a comprehensive experimental protocol, including cognitive assessments, the Cold Pressor Test (CPT) for pain induction, and tDCS/TENS administration. EEG recordings were conducted pre- and post-intervention across all conditions. The protocol for this study was categorized into four groups: G1 (control), G2 (TENS), G3 (anodal-tDCS), and G4 (cathodal-tDCS). Paired t-tests (p < 0.05) were conducted to compare Pre-Stage, Post-Stage, and neuromodulation conditions, with t-values providing insights into effect magnitudes. The result showed a reduction in pain intensity with TENS (p = 0.002, t-value = -5.34) and cathodal-tDCS (p = 0.023, t-value = -5.08) and increased pain tolerance with TENS (p = 0.009, t-value = 4.98) and cathodal-tDCS (p = 0.001, t-value = 5.78). Anodal-tDCS (p = 0.041, t-value = 4.86) improved cognitive performance. The EEG analysis revealed distinct neural oscillatory patterns across the groups. Specifically, G2 and G4 showed delta-power reductions, while G3 observed an increase. Moreover, G2 exhibited increased theta-power in the occipital region during CPT and Post-Stages. In the alpha-band, G2, G3, and G4 had reductions Post-Stage, while G1 and G3 increased. Additionally, beta-power increased in the frontal region for G2 and G3, contrasting with a reduction in G4. Furthermore, gamma-power globally increased during CPT1, with G1, G2, and G3 showing reductions Post-Stage, while G4 displayed a global decrease. The findings confirm the efficacy of TENS and tDCS as possible non-drug therapeutic alternatives for cognition with alleviation from pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Danish Mujib
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi 75270, Pakistan; (A.Z.R.); (M.A.H.)
| | - Ahmad Zahid Rao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi 75270, Pakistan; (A.Z.R.); (M.A.H.)
| | - Muhammad Abul Hasan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi 75270, Pakistan; (A.Z.R.); (M.A.H.)
- Neurocomputation Lab, National Centre of Artificial Intelligence, NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi 75270, Pakistan; (H.S.); (S.A.Q.)
| | - Ayesha Ikhlaq
- Institute of Physics, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan; (A.I.); (M.U.M.); (F.M.)
| | - Hira Shahid
- Neurocomputation Lab, National Centre of Artificial Intelligence, NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi 75270, Pakistan; (H.S.); (S.A.Q.)
- Research Centre for Intelligent Healthcare, Coventry University, Coventry-CV1 2TU, UK
| | - Nargis Bano
- Department of Physics and Astronomy College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Usman Mustafa
- Institute of Physics, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan; (A.I.); (M.U.M.); (F.M.)
| | - Faisal Mukhtar
- Institute of Physics, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan; (A.I.); (M.U.M.); (F.M.)
| | - Mehrun Nisa
- Department of Physics, Govt. Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan;
| | - Saad Ahmed Qazi
- Neurocomputation Lab, National Centre of Artificial Intelligence, NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi 75270, Pakistan; (H.S.); (S.A.Q.)
- Department of Electrical Engineering, NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
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Fougère M, Greco-Vuilloud J, Arnous C, Abel F, Lowe C, Elie V, Marchand S. Sensory stimulations potentializing digital therapeutics pain control. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2023; 4:1168377. [PMID: 37745799 PMCID: PMC10511651 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1168377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
For the past two decades, using Digital Therapeutics (DTx) to counter painful symptoms has emerged as a novel pain relief strategy. Several studies report that DTx significantly diminish pain while compensating for the limitations of pharmacological analgesics (e.g., addiction, side effects). Virtual reality (VR) is a major component of the most effective DTx for pain reduction. Notably, various stimuli (e.g., auditory, visual) appear to be frequently associated with VR in DTx. This review aims to compare the hypoalgesic power of specific stimuli with or without a VR environment. First, this review will briefly describe VR technology and known elements related to its hypoalgesic effect. Second, it will non-exhaustively list various stimuli known to have a hypoalgesic effect on pain independent of the immersive environment. Finally, this review will focus on studies that investigate a possible potentialized effect on pain reduction of these stimuli in a VR environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Serge Marchand
- Lucine, Bordeaux, France
- Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Centre de Recherche Clinique du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
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Kim YJ, Kim KB, Kim JS, Kim HS, Choi MH, Yi JH, Chung SC. Effects of inaudible binaural beats on visuospatial memory. Neuroreport 2023; 34:501-505. [PMID: 37270841 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Binaural beats are auditory beat stimulation that produces sounds and induces a specific state of brain wave based on the difference in the frequency of stimulation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of inaudible binaural beats on visuospatial memory at 18 000 Hz reference and 10 Hz difference frequencies. METHODS Eighteen adult subjects in their twenties were enrolled, including 12 males (mean age: 23.8 ± 1.2) and 6 females (mean age: 22.8 ± 0.8). An auditory stimulator providing 10 Hz binaural beats stimulation via 18 000 Hz to the left and 18 010 Hz to the right ears was used. The experiment consisted of two 5-min phases, including a rest phase and a task phase involving task performance without (Task-only) and with binaural beats stimulation (Task+BB). A 3-back task was used to measure visuospatial memory. Cognitive ability measured by task performance (accuracy and reaction time) with and without binaural beats, as well as variations in alpha power across different brain domains, were compared using paired t-tests. RESULTS Compared to the Task-only condition, the Task+BB condition had significantly higher accuracy and significantly shorter reaction time. The electroencephalogram analysis showed that the reduction level in alpha power for the task performance under the Task+BB condition was significantly lower in all brain areas except the frontal, compared to that under the Task-only condition. CONCLUSION The significance of this study lies in having verified the independent effects of binaural beats stimulation without any auditory influence, based on visuospatial memory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ji-Su Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
| | - Hyung-Sik Kim
- Department of Mechatronics Engineering, School of ICT Convergence Engineering, College of Science & Technology, Konkuk University, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea
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Influence of Binaural Beats Stimulation of Gamma Frequency over Memory Performance and EEG Spectral Density. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11060801. [PMID: 36981458 PMCID: PMC10048082 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11060801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Similar to short-term memory, working memory cannot hold information for a long period of time. Studies have shown that binaural beats (BB) can stimulate the brain through sound, affecting working memory function. Although the literature is not conclusive regarding the effects of BB stimulation (stim) on memory, some studies have shown that gamma-BB stim (40 Hz) can increase attentional focusing and improve visual working memory. To better understand the relationship between BB stim and memory, we collected electroencephalographic data (EEG) from 30 subjects in 3 phases—a baseline, with gamma-BB stim, and control stim—in a rest state, with eyes closed, and while performing memory tasks. Both EEG data and memory task performance were analyzed. The results showed no significant changes in the memory task performance or the EEG data when comparing experimental and control conditions. We concluded that brain entrainment was not achieved with our parameters of gamma-BB stimulation when analyzing EEG power spectral density (PSD) and memory task performance. Hence, we suggest that other aspects of EEG data, such as connectivity and correlations with task performance, should also be analyzed for future studies.
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Binaural beats reduce feeling of pain and discomfort during colonoscopy procedure in not-sedated patients: A randomized control trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2022; 48:101605. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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