Does Double Biofeedback Affect Functional Hemispheric Asymmetry and Activity? A Pilot Study

TL;DR

This pilot study investigates how double neurofeedback influences brain hemispheric asymmetry and activity, finding it accelerates sound perception without directly affecting asymmetry, suggesting further research is needed.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of double neurofeedback to modulate functional hemispheric activity and perception, providing preliminary evidence of its effects.

Findings

Double neurofeedback accelerates sound perception in dichotic listening.

It does not directly alter hemispheric asymmetry.

Further research is needed on its effects on brain activity.

Abstract

In the current pilot study, we attempt to find out how double neurofeedback influences functional hemispheric asymmetry and activity. We examined 30 healthy participants (8 males; 22 females, mean age = 29; SD = 8). To measure functional hemispheric asymmetry and activity, we used computer laterometry in the "two-source" lead-lag dichotic paradigm. Double biofeedback included 8 min of EEG oscillation recording with five minutes of basic mode. During the basic mode, the current amplitude of the EEG oscillator gets transformed into feedback sounds while the current amplitude of alpha EEG oscillator is used to modulate the intensity of light signals. Double neurofeedback did not directly influence the asymmetry itself but accelerated individual sound perception characteristics during dichotic listening in the preceding effect paradigm. Further research is needed to investigate the effect of double neurofeedback training on functional brain activity and asymmetry, taking into account participants' age, gender, and motivation.