Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33786666›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurology2021

MRI correlates of cognitive improvement after home-based EEG neurofeedback training in patients with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.

Daniela Pinter, Silvia Erika Kober, Viktoria Fruhwirth, Lisa Berger, Anna Damulina, Michael Khalil, Christa Neuper, Guilherme Wood, Christian Enzinger

Open access · hybridAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
2.4field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 22 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Psilocybin-assisted neurofeedback for the improvement of executive functions: a randomized semi-naturalistic-lab feasibility study.Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2024
    Trial
  4. Review
  5. Brain-computer interface: an update for the clinicians.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2026
    Review
  6. Review
  7. Review
  8. Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis: from phenomenology to neurobiological mechanisms.Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996) · 2024
    Review
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Review
  12. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Daniela PinterDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 22, Graz, Austria. daniela.pinter@medunigraz.at.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3138-5225
Silvia Erika KoberBioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria.
Viktoria FruhwirthDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 22, Graz, Austria.
Lisa BergerDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 22, Graz, Austria.
Anna DamulinaDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 22, Graz, Austria.
Michael KhalilDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 22, Graz, Austria.
Christa NeuperBioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria.
Guilherme WoodBioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria.
Christian EnzingerDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 22, Graz, Austria.
Medical University of Graz · ATUniversity of Graz · AT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveNeurofeedback training may improve cognitive function in patients with neurological disorders. However, the underlying cerebral mechanisms of such improvements are poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to investigate MRI correlates of cognitive improvement after EEG-based neurofeedback training in patients with MS (pwMS).

methodsFourteen pwMS underwent ten neurofeedback training sessions within 3-4 weeks at home using a tele-rehabilitation system. Half of the pwMS (N = 7, responders) learned to self-regulate sensorimotor rhythm (SMR, 12-15 Hz) by visual feedback and improved cognitively after training, whereas the remainder (non-responders, n = 7) did not. Diffusion-tensor imaging and resting-state fMRI of the brain was performed before and after training. We analyzed fractional anisotropy (FA) and functional connectivity (FC) of the default-mode, sensorimotor (SMN) and salience network (SAL).

resultsAt baseline, responders and non-responders were comparable regarding sex, age, education, disease duration, physical and cognitive impairment, and MRI parameters. After training, compared to non-responders, responders showed increased FA and FC within the SAL and SMN. Cognitive improvement correlated with increased FC in SAL and a correlation trend with increased FA was observed.

conclusionsThis exploratory study suggests that successful neurofeedback training may not only lead to cognitive improvement, but also to increases in brain microstructure and functional connectivity.

Indexed as

Multiple SclerosisNeurofeedbackCognitionElectroencephalographyHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingPilot ProjectsCognitive trainingDTIMultiple sclerosisNeurofeedbackResting-state fMRI

Identifiers

PMID33786666
PMCPMC8463344
OpenAlexW3151306673

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.