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Дуглас Дейли делится своими изысканиями в группе Brain-Trainer. Источник

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Douglas Dailey
For the last year I have been using a 2 channel summed montage, up-training both alpha and theta at Fz and Pz, rewarding for increased synchrony between Fz and Pz, and employing multiple inhibits. I use this in most situations where standard alpha-theta protocol would be indicated.

I want to discuss very briefly the 6 main issues that influenced me to depart from standard protocols. Citations follow.

1. Frontal Midline Theta (the Cigánek rhythm)
2. fMRI and EEG studies of meditative and peak states
3. Default mode networks (DMN)
4. Role of the precuneus (BA 7)
5. Role of anterior cingulate (BA 24)
6. The usefulness of multiple inhibits

Frontal Midline Theta (Cigánek rhythm). Unlike the polymorphic theta that is associated with disordered attention, the Cigánek rhythm occurs during concentration as well as drowsiness [1]. The frontal midline theta described in the literature is associated with beneficial psychological and regulatory states, namely, decreased neuroticism, better autonomic control, increased extroversion, positive mental state, and immersive-meditative states (more below).

Meditative and peak states research: Mario Beauregard's recent fMRI work with Carmelite nuns during the "mystical" state found increased theta in the anterior cingulate cortex (BA 24) and superior parietal lobe (BA 7) [2]. Brodmann areas 24 and 7 correspond roughly to Fz and Pz. Several studies have emphasized that mindfulness meditation leads to repeated runs of alpha and theta coherence, each lasting over 40 seconds, more evident frontally, and correlated to the clarity of the experience [3]. Strong and sustained alpha coherence during meditation distinguishes this state from the loss of alpha coherence that occurs with sleepiness [4].

Default mode networks (DMN): Raichle, et al, in 2001 elucidated a "default mode" of brain functioning [5] in healthy individuals at rest. Certain types of non self-referential mental activity cause a reliable de-activation in key areas including medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate and precuneus. These deactivations may be able to be reactivated toward normal default mode status through neurofeedback, particularly at Pz and Fz. Other aspects of DMN functioning may explain a variety of neurofeedback phenomena, such as low frequency bipolar training. Monto, et al, state, "ongoing 0.01-0.10 Hz EEG fluctuations are prominent and functionally significant during execution of cognitive tasks." [6]

Role of the precuneus: Cavanna AE, et al, in 2006, state: "Recent functional imaging studies in healthy individuals suggest a central role for the precuneus in a wide spectrum of highly integrated tasks, including visual-spatial imagery, episodic memory retrieval and self-processing operations, namely first-person perspective taking and an experience of agency. Furthermore, precuneus and surrounding posteromedial areas are amongst the brain structures displaying the highest resting metabolic rates (hot spots) and are characterized by transient decreases in the tonic activity during engagement in non-self-referential goal-directed actions (default mode of brain function)." [7]

Role of anterior cingulate (AC) in neuropsychiatry: "It has been demonstrated that humans can acquire a certain degree of control over the electrical activity of their own AC." [8]

Patients with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) characterized by inability to repress traumatic memories, showed reduced activity of the rostral anterior cingulate compared with controls. [9]

"Anterior cingulate cortex volume is substantially smaller in association with combat-related PTSD, a finding broadly consistent with cingulate hypofunctionality in that disorder." [10]

Referring to the subgenual cingulate, Brodmann area 25, also known as "Cg25", Carhart-Harris, et al, state "…Cg25 exerts a controlling influence over visceromotor regions." "…Cg25 is centrally involved in repression." " …sudden lifting of negative affect upon stimulation of Cg25 is consistent with the idea of a release of libido for object cathexis after it has been pathologically dammed up behind a repressing central force." "…inhibiting activity in Cg25 facilitates the disintegration of a wider network. For example, it is possible that activation of Cg25 supports activation of the DMN (Default Mode Network)." [11]

"Our findings suggest that the long-range connections linking dorsal anterior cingulate to posterior cingulate and precuneus should be considered as a candidate locus of dysfunction in ADHD." [12]

The usefulness of multiple inhibits: The nature and purpose of multiple inhibits are often misunderstood. The following paragraph is a description taken from the alpha-theta protocol guide. "In traditional amplitude training, it is common to have a `high inhibit' instrument to discourage excessive beta activity or EMG activity. Suppose you have a high inhibit which is set for the range of 15-30 Hz. You observe that your client has 20 Hz activity that is usually above 5 microvolts but occasionally above 10 microvolts. You could set an alarm threshold so that any signal above 10 microvolts between 15 and 30 Hz gives a warning signal. However, your client may also have a repeated 4 microvolt activity at some other frequency, say 28 Hz, that is more clinically significant. Unfortunately, it will not trigger the "high inhibit" because the high inhibit is set to 10 microvolts across the entire 15-30 Hz range. Unfortunately, in order to capture the 28 Hz 4 microvolt signal, you can't just lower the general 15-30 Hz threshold from 10 microvolts down to 4 microvolts because the 20 Hz signal is usually above 5 microvolts and would set off the alarm all the time."

"One way to capture more rogue excursions is to have multiple inhibit bins, each spanning 4 Hz. For example, you could have an 18-22 Hz bin, a 22-26 Hz bin, and a 26-30 Hz bin. The 18-22 Hz bin could have a threshold of 10 microvolts to catch its rogue excursions, and the 26-30 Hz bin could have a threshold of 4 microvolts to catch its rogue excursions as well."

In Llinás' 1999 article on thalamocortical dysrhythmia [13], he reports observations on clients with a variety of conditions of neural dysregulation including neurogenic pain, depression, tinnitus, epilepsy, obsessive-compulsive disease, Parkinsonism, dystonia and spasticity. In general he found increased cortical power expenditure across the entire spectrum in patients compared to controls. By using multiple inhibits, it becomes common to see a reduced expenditure of energy across much the of the EEG spectrum.

Llinás also showed (op. cit.) that patients tended to excessive hypercoherence across all frequencies compared to controls. Any concerns about the possibility of increasing coherence problems through alpha-theta synchrony training at Fz – Pz can be addressed by preparatory inter-hemispheric single channel bipolar training, which also targets aspects of the Default Mode Network.

Why encourage theta, especially frontal theta?

Alpha theta training reduces frontal fast beta activity such as is seen in PTSD, stage fright, and pain.[14] Such fast beta activity may predict relapse in those being treated for chemical dependency. [15]

Alpha theta training enhances fronto-central theta (rhythmic, not polymorphic) which is associated with focused attention, immersive-meditative concentration, creative performance, working memory tasks, and emotionally positive state.[16]

Enhanced frontal theta activity has been associated with feelings of well-being, relief from anxiety, and reduced activation of the sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system. [17]

Enhanced frontal theta activity under task improves regulation of autonomic function, especially cardiac autonomic function. [18]

Appearance of fronto-central theta rhythm is related to positive personality traits; these traits include lower scores on anxiety and neuroticism scales and a higher score on an extraversion scale. [19]

References:
[1] Stern JM & Engel J. Atlas of EEG Patterns. Lippincott Williams & Williams, Philadelphia PA. 2005, p 270.
[2] Beauregard M & O'Leary D. The Spiritual Brain. HarperCollins, NY, 2008. P 275.
[3] Badawi K, et al. Electrophysiologic characteristics of respiratory suspension periods occurring during the practice of the transcendental meditation program. Psychosomatic Medicine 1984; 46:267-276
[4] Levine P. The coherence spectral array (COSPAR) and its application to the study of spatial ordering in the EEG. Proceedings of the San Diego Biomedical Symposia 1976; 15:2337-247.
[5] Raichle ME, et al. A default mode of brain function. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 98,2, 676-682. (2001)
[6] Monto S, et al Very Slow EEG Fluctuations Predict the Dynamics of Stimulus Detection and Oscillation Amplitudes in Humans The Journal of Neuroscience, August 13, 2008, 28(33):8268-8272
[7] Cavanna AE, et al. The precuneus: a review of its functional anatomy and behavioural correlates. Brain (2006), 120, 564-583.
[8] Cannon R, Lubar J, et al . The effects of neurofeedback training in the cognitive division of the anterior cingulate gyrus. Intern. J. Neuroscience, 117:1–22, 2007.
[9] Britton JC, et al. Corticolimbic blood flow in posttraumatic stress disorder during script-driven imagery. Biol Psychiatry 2005, 57:832-840.
[10] Woodward S, et al. Decreased anterior cingulate volume in combat-related PTSD. Biological Psychiatry, vol. 59, num 7, 2006, p 582-587.
[11] Carhart-Harris RL, et al. Mourning and melancholia revisited: correspondences between principles of Freudian metapsychology and empirical findings in neuropsychiatry. Annals of Gen Psychiatry 2008, 7:9.
[12] Castellanos FX, et al. Cingulate-precuneus interactions: a new locus of dysfunction in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Biol Psychiatry. 2008: Feb 1;63(3):332-7.
[13] Llinas R. Thalamocortical dysrhythmia: A neurological and neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by magnetoencephalography. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 96, 15222-15227.
[14] Egner T, Zech TF, Gruzelier JH. The effects of neurofeedback training on the spectral topography of the electroencephalogram. Clin Neurophysiol. 2004 Nov;115(11):2452-60.
[15] Bauer LO. Predicting relapse to alcohol and drug abuse via quantitative electroencephalography. Neuropsychopharmacology, 2001; 3:332-340.
[16] Aftanas LI, Golocheikine SA. Human anterior and frontal midline theta and lower alpha reflect emotionally positive state and internalized attention: high-resolution EEG investigation of meditation. Neurosci Lett. 2001 Sep 7;310(1):57-60.
[17] Mizuki Y, Hashimoto M, Tanaka T, Inanaga K, Tanaka M. A new physiological tool for assessing anxiolytic effects in humans: frontal midline theta activity. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1983;80(4):311-4.
[18] Kubota Y, Sato W, Toichi M, Murai T, Okada T, Hayashi A, Sengoku A. Frontal midline theta rhythm is correlated with cardiac autonomic activities during the performance of an attention demanding meditation procedure. Brain Res Cogn Brain Res. 2001 Apr;11(2):281-7.
[19] Mizuki Y, Kajimura N, Nishikori S, Imaizumi J, Yamada M. Appearance of frontal midline theta rhythm and personality traits. Folia Psychiatr Neurol Jpn. 1984;38(4):451-8

Обсуждение

Pete
I just wish you'd think things through a bit before you go sailing off like this! Kidding.

Wow, this is fascinating. I for one hope that any discussion among you and other group members could at least be copied to the group, since I think it would be fascinating. I'm especially interested in the results you have achieved. You see you've been using it for the past year. Has this been in your personal training, or have you also used it with clients? Have there been any negative reactions or has the result been largely positive?

If this is not proprietary, I had a few questions about the specifics of your approach, which I assume you may have been adjusting as you've worked with it:

In what bands have you been increasing synchrony between Fz and Pz?

You mentioned theta and alpha, but I find myself wondering how you defined those bands in terms of frequency, given that there are fairly significant differences between the effects of lower and higher frequency alpha and theta bands. I couldn't find anything on the Cinganek rhythm by Googling or in Rhythms of the Brain or Nunez, but it sounds a lot like hippocampal theta, which is often seen at the frontal midline and which focuses more specifically around 7 Hz.

What inhibit strategy have youi found most effective? Are you using something like the Othmer's approach which inhibits the full band of frequencies (sometimes in overlapping strips) or were there specific frequencies you used? If so, were they individualized to specific clients or useful for all?

This is really fascinating and excellent work, and I'd love to learn as much about it as you are willing to share.

George
Very interesting stuff here, it will go into my archive,

I would greatly appreciate any information you can share regarding the research in these areas.

I have been following some of this research myself over the past few years/.

My interest has been in large part related to how to most effectively use my 4, and now 8, channel amplifiers.

Several things you mentioned matched with ideas I have been pursuing for a while.

The idea of the "default networks" has informed my choice of placements even when the focus of disregulation is very specific I almost always have electrodes at other sites to observe and or train. For alpha synchrony training I have used from 4 to eight sites that match closely with the sites that are show in the "default network" research. Precuneus, frontal, and anterior cingulate. I have not attempted AT in the way you mention but I will begin to investigate this as well.

Early on in my work I did a lot of work with wide band inhibits with some good success but upon looking at results of sessions I saw some things that sparked my interest. In the 3d spectrograph in BIoExplorer I saw emergence of low and mid beta as sessions progressed. Many times there were visible e decreases in total amplitude but not always, and the fact of decrease or not did not seem to be related to success in the training, It appeared that the brain, given a certain broad goal to meet, was able to do a great deal of reorganization across the spectrum. Interest in this, and the timely sharing of some information by Eduaro Rocatti, lead me to looking at spectral entropy as a measure for EEG activity.

Your mention of multiple inhibits fits in very well here, I use 20 narrow bands in the entropy design. Any abrupt rise or fall in the amplitude of any of the bands affects the entropy value. I have seen excess coherence values go down with this training.

The information on meditators and theta coherence coincides with other research I have seen on meditation. In particular is the rise of gamma frequency amplitude during meditation. At least two studies I have found lately (using implanted electrodes during neurosurgery, patient awake) spoke of the increase of theta synchrony as the means of coupling multiple areas of the brain to allow for the task related gamma to emerge at those sites.

I will put together any information I have on this and gladly share it with the group. I would love to see this conversation continue and grow.