Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback最新文献

With the heavy academic demands for medical students, this research aimed to find the potential benefits of short-term mindfulness meditation in improving working memory among medical students, which may potentially have positive effects on their academics. Several previous studies have also shown the positive effects of mindfulness meditation in improving different cognitive functions, however, most of those studies studied the effects of long-term meditation. This study is unique because it studies the effectiveness of short-term meditation. To see the effects of a short-term mindfulness meditation practice on working memory among medical students at Khyber Medical College, Peshawar. In a quasi-experimental study, 55 medical students provided written consent to participate. The participants' working memory was assessed using the forward digit span test before a brief mindfulness meditation session. Following listening to a 10 min mindfulness audiotape, the forward digit span test was administered again. The pre- and post-meditation test scores were compared using SPSS software for statistical analysis. This study explored the pre- and post-meditation Forward Digit Span test scores. The improvements were extremely significant as per the T-test analysis (p = 0.00). On separate T-tests for each gender, it was found that females (p = 0.013) had a comparatively lesser increase in digit-span test scores than males (p = 0.003). However, both males and females showed improvements of significance. These findings imply the cognitive benefits of meditation practices for both genders. This research indicates that short-term mindfulness meditation improves the working memory of medical students. Evidence was obtained to suggest that mindfulness practice can improve working memory, which may have implications for enhancing the academic performance of medical students.

Postoperative cognitive impairment is common among patients undergoing brain tumor resection. Neurofeedback (NF) represents a promising adjunctive intervention for cognitive rehabilitation, though its clinical application in neuro-oncology remains largely unexplored. This prospective case series enrolled seven inpatients (5 women, 2 men; aged 46-76 years) with cognitive deficits following brain tumor surgery. Each underwent 15 sessions of EEG-based NF (35 min/session, five times per week for three weeks) in parallel with daily motor rehabilitation. Baseline and post-intervention assessments included quantitative EEG (qEEG), a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, and functional measures. All patients completed the NF protocol without adverse events. qEEG analyses revealed heterogeneous but measurable modulations in absolute power and spectral ratios, with several patients showing normalization of pathological delta/beta activity. Reliable Change Index analyses indicated cognitive improvements in all patients, particularly in domains of memory, executive function, and language. Secondary benefits were also observed in mood, motor performance, and activities of daily living, though these varied across individuals. Intensive NF training combined with motor rehabilitation was feasible and well tolerated in this heterogeneous cohort. Preliminary results suggest that NF may promote postoperative cognitive recovery, with additional gains in functional and affective domains. Larger controlled studies are required to validate these exploratory findings.

Despite a wide variety of research and clinical utilization over the past 50 years, neurofeedback has failed to gain recognition comparable to other well-researched mental health interventions. The goal of this study was to explore neurofeedback practitioners' perspectives on what would help make the intervention more accessible to mental health providers and to the public. Despite a wide variety of research and clinical utilization over the past 50 years, neurofeedback has failed to gain recognition comparable to other well-researched mental health interventions. The goal of this study was to explore neurofeedback practitioners' perspectives on what would help make the intervention more accessible to mental health providers and to the public. As part of a larger implementation study using mixed methods to identify determinants of neurofeedback implementation, this qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews conducted online with 17 neurofeedback practitioners in outpatient settings, analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to identify themes related to accessibility. This study focused on the interview question: "What would help increase the accessibility of neurofeedback to the public?" Interview data were analyzed by two independent coders using inductive thematic analysis. The sample was mostly White (n = 15, 88%) and female (n = 13, 76%) with an average age of 53 years (range: 34-73 years). They averaged 17.8 years in practice (range: 3-36 years) and 8 years practicing neurofeedback (range: 1-20 years). Three major themes to help increase accessibility were identified: (a) financial support, including increased insurance coverage; (b) better provider education, including introduction of neurofeedback into graduate school curriculum; and (c) more research/research funding contributing to the scientific credibility of the neurofeedback field. This study was the first to qualitatively explore the accessibility changes of neurofeedback from an implementation science lens. Study participants described tangible ways to address these challenges through actionable avenues that could ultimately lead to increasing the update of neurofeedback in routine mental healthcare.

Painful menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) affect the physical and mental well-being of millions of women, generally interfering with workplace productivity, educational learning experiences, and overall quality of life. This report describes the relationship between diaphragmatic breathing and the reduction of dysmenorrhea symptoms among students enrolled in a university stress-management program. Forty-nine women participated in an intervention group while 26 women participated in a comparison group. The intervention group spent 30 min practicing daily breathing and relaxation exercises over five weeks. The comparison group had no exposure to specific interventions. Analysis suggests significant improvements in menstrual symptoms in the intervention group compared to the comparison group (p = 0.0008, after age adjustment). There was no difference in outcomes between in-person and online instruction. The observations suggest that practicing 30 min per day of specific breathing and relaxation techniques are scalable for groups beyond students. Despite limitations, such as the lack of direct comparisons with pharmacological interventions (e.g. pain medications), the observations support diaphragmatic breathing as a non-pharmacological self-care method for dysmenorrhea, with recommendations for incorporating self-care practices that foster effective menstrual management and reduce stigma into everyday health education for girls and young women everywhere.

Normal gastric functioning (normogastria) is characterized by rhythmic gastric myoelectric activity, while dysrhythmic gastric activity (bradygastria and tachygastria) is associated with symptoms such as nausea, epigastric discomfort and fullness. Gastric biofeedback using electrogastrography (EGG) has emerged as a promising tool to regulate gastric rhythm, but research remains limited with few experimental studies. The current study (N = 94) tested a novel gastric biofeedback training in virtual reality (VR). We used a randomized controlled study design with three groups: (1) VR gastric biofeedback training, (2) the same training on a 2D screen and (3) a relaxation control group. We examined (1) the trajectory of gastric activity before, during, and after training (2) participants' ability to increase normogastria and reduce dysrhythmic activity and (3) self-reported experiences (motivation, attention, mood, presence, user acceptance, etc.). Results showed the expected peak in normogastria and a nadir in dysrhythmic activity during training, with a significant reduction in dysrhythmic gastric activity across sessions. Participants reported an improved ability to handle physical discomfort over time. VR and 2D groups reported faster time perception and better concentration than controls. Spatial presence (i.e., the feeling of "being there") was higher in the VR group than in the 2D group. Enjoyment, concentration, and alertness were initially high but declined over time in all groups. The results demonstrate the general technical feasibility of the paradigm and positive evaluations. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms and to determine whether and how training success may relate to beneficial outcomes in clinical populations.

This study aimed to reduce alpha and beta brainwave power through external audio-visual stimulation (AVS) and to evaluate its clinical effect on anxiety levels, as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), alongside electroencephalography (EEG) data. Thirty participants received AVS, while 12 received audio-visual white noise as a control. EEG recordings were obtained before, during, and after the stimulation. A digital FFT-based power spectrum analysis was performed, and raw sum values (sum of spectral line values) within defined frequency ranges were extracted. The STAI was administered to assess both trait and state anxiety. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS. In the AVS group, significant reductions in alpha and beta power were observed between the pre-, during-, and post-stimulation phases (p < 0.05). Comparison of pre- and post-STAI scores revealed a statistically significant decrease in anxiety levels within the AVS group (p < 0.001), with no similar effect observed in the control group. Audio-visual stimulation significantly reduced alpha and beta EEG power during exposure and led to a marked decrease in self-reported anxiety. These findings provide both neurophysiological and clinical support for the use of AVS as a nonpharmacological method to alleviate anxiety symptoms.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are leading causes of premature mortality, disability, and reduced quality of life worldwide. While extensive literature has addressed cardiovascular risk and treatment, the role of noninvasive interventions in rehabilitation and secondary prevention remains less well defined. Among these, heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVBF) and cardioprotective dietary approaches have shown preventive benefits, yet their effectiveness in patients with established CVD or those undergoing cardiac rehabilitation is not fully established. This review systematically evaluates the evidence for HRVBF and heart-healthy dietary patterns in relapse prevention and rehabilitation, with particular attention to hospital-based contexts. Following PRISMA guidelines, systematic searches were conducted in Scopus and PubMed. Results suggest that HRVBF may enhance autonomic regulation, alleviate psychological distress, and shorten hospital stays. Dietary interventions, particularly those emphasizing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and Mediterranean-style patterns, demonstrate potential to reduce inflammation and modulate cardiovascular risk markers. Nevertheless, evidence supporting their integration into postoperative rehabilitation or treatment of established CVD remains limited. Heterogeneity in study designs and lack of standardization further constrain generalizability. Overall, the findings underscore the promise of early, noninvasive, and integrative rehabilitation strategies, highlighting the need for structured protocols in clinical settings, particularly during the immediate postoperative phase or after acute cardiac events.

This retrospective study analyzes the effects of Mind Meter-a session of group-delivered pain neuroscience education (PNE) paired with temperature biofeedback-on peripheral temperature and pain outcomes in chronic pain participants. A retrospective review assessed physiological and subjective responses to this novel group intervention. Before and immediately after the intervention, peripheral skin temperature and pain related symptom scores were collected using an adapted Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS). Participants (n = 35) with chronic pain participated in a single 2-h Mind Meter group. Significant pre-post changes were seen in both physiological and subjective symptom severity. Peripheral temperature increased 2.30°F (95% CI 1.05, 3.54; p < 0.001) on average. Participants reported a mean reduction in pain intensity of -1.14 points (95% CI -1.61, -0.068; p < 0.001). Sadness, anxiety, and well-being on the ESAS also improved significantly (highest p = 0.001). In this study we observed that after a single group-session of Mind Meter, participants generated immediate, measurable physiological changes attributable to alterations in the autonomic nervous system, modest pain relief, and overall symptom improvement. This brief, group format provides a novel option that makes PNE and biofeedback a potentially accessible complementary modality.