Optimization of Memory Neurofeedback System Utilizing Intracranial EEG of the Hippocampus
Poster No:
850
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Ako Matsuhashi1, Naoto Kunii2, Seijiro Shimada1, Takeshi Matsuo3, Toshiya Aono1, Shigeta Fujitani1, Keisuke Nagata1, Yohei Ishishita2, Kenji Ibayashi2, Keisuke Ohtani2, Kensuke Kawai2, Nobuhito Saito1
Institutions:
1the University of Tokyo Hospital, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 2Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 3Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital, Fuchu, Tokyo
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Introduction:
Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) experience deterioration of memory function due to recurrent epileptic seizures, which can disrupt intellectual activities in daily lives. While focal resection can eliminate seizures in 60-70% of the patients, the surgery carries the risk of further memory decline. We hypothesize that promoting functional reorganization of the non-epileptic hippocampus through neurofeedback (NF), enabling the non-epileptic hippocampus to compensate for the epileptic hippocampus, could avoid further deterioration of the memory function of patients with TLE.
Methods:
The participants were patients with intracranial electrodes implanted in both hippocampi for diagnostic purposes to identify the epileptic focus. After conducting video intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) monitoring to determine the epileptic focus, the memory NF task was performed, using the electrode implanted in the non-epileptic hippocampus. The memory NF task was developed specifically for this project by our group. This task involves the real-time analysis of hippocampal activity during the performance of a memory task. While the participant is encoding words shown on a monitor, theta activity of the non-epileptic hippocampus was analyzed and visually fed back to the participant as a circle with varying diameter depending on the theta activity in real-time. We examined the changes in theta activity and the corresponding performance trends in the memory task with repeated NF sessions.
Results:
The above memory NF task was conducted in six TLE patients who had intracranial electrodes implanted in bilateral hippocampi. As for four patients whose preoperative Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) were higher than 65, theta activity increased significantly in the latter half of the repeated sessions compared to the initial session (p<0.05). Among those four, 3 participants had positive correlations between the theta activity and memory task performance (Spearman's correlation coefficient for these three participants ranging from 0.1 to 0.8).
Conclusions:
We successfully developed a memory NF task that effectively promoted targeted brain activity. This study suggests the possibility of using NF to enhance memory function in patients with TLE prior to focal resection.
Learning and Memory:
Long-Term Memory (Episodic and Semantic) 1
Neural Plasticity and Recovery of Function 2
Keywords:
ELECTROCORTICOGRAPHY
Electroencephaolography (EEG)
Memory
Other - Neurofeedback, Hippocampus
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
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Provide references using APA citation style.
2. Koizumi, K. (2023). Paving the Way for Memory Enhancement: Development and Examination of a Neurofeedback System Targeting the Medial Temporal Lobe. Biomedicines, 11(8), 2262.
3. Koizumi, K. (2023). Intracranial Neurofeedback Modulating Neural Activity in the Mesial Temporal Lobe During Memory Encoding: A Pilot Study. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 48(4), 439-451.
4. Osipova, D. (2006). Theta and Gamma Oscillations Predict Encoding and Retrieval of Declarative Memory. The Journal of Neuroscience, 6(28):7523–7531.
5. Rozengurt, R. (2023). Theta EEG neurofeedback promotes early consolidation of real life‑like episodic memory. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 23:1473–1481.