Biofeedback of Event-Related Slow Potentials of the Brain

Abstract

A biofeedback paradigm was developed for self‐regulation of cortical DC‐shifts. Subjects received continuous visual feedback of their actual DC‐shift during six sec. intervals. Feedback trial series alternated with transfer test trial series. Several studies demonstrated that subjects are able to achieve cortical self‐regulation which is maintained and even improved in transfer test trials. This method is used to investigate the covariation of DC‐shifts and performance in reaction time tasks, mental tasks and signal detection by varying DC‐shifts systematically. The procedure was also applied to different patient groups to test the functional significance of distinct brain regions and to explore deficits in patient groups.