Neurofeedback with Compact Training Protocol on Chronic Stroke Rehabilitation: A Case Report

EEG neurofeedback (NF) enables the user to learn self-regulating his/her own brain activity through real-time feedback by visual, auditory, or visual-auditory modality using operant conditioning principle. Although NF training has shown benefits on cognitive and motor functions on stroke patients, the training schedule usually spreads a rather long time. Considering the low resilience, physical and mental conditions of these patients, this study employs a relatively compact training protocol. A 61-year-old man with chronic stroke received NF training at C3 location in consecutive eight days with one session per day. The resting EEG, cognitive and motor functions were assessed from three interviews performed two days before NF training, in the middle of NF, and two days after NF training. As a result, the patient got better in the grasping with right hand, and his eyes-closed alpha activity enhanced across the three interviews. The findings may suggest the benefits of alpha enhancement NF with a compact training protocol on the motor function recovery of patient with chronic stroke. Further study would extend and validate such NF protocol using a randomized controlled design.