Short and long-term effects of sham-controlled prefrontal EEG-neurofeedback training in healthy subjects

•Controlled EEG neurofeedback study in adult healthy subjects using a novel sham design.•Altered frontal beta activity in healthy subjects after 15 EEG neurofeedback training sessions.•Demonstration of long-term effects using resting state EEG after three years.

ObjectiveIn this study we evaluated long-term effects of frontal beta EEG-neurofeedback training (E-NFT) on healthy subjects. We hypothesized that E-NFT can change frontal beta activity in the long-term and that changes in frontal beta EEG activity are accompanied by altered cognitive performance.Methods25 healthy subjects were included and randomly assigned to active or sham E-NFT. On average the subjects underwent 15 E-NFT training sessions with a training duration of 45 min. Resting-state EEG was recorded prior to E-NFT training (t1) and in a 3-year follow-up (t3).ResultsCompared to sham E-NFT, which was used for the control group, real E-NFT increased beta activity in a predictable way. This increase was maintained over a period of three years post training. However, E-NFT did not result in significantly improved cognitive performance.ConclusionBased on our results, we conclude that EEG-NFT can selectively modify EEG beta activity both in short and long-term.SignificanceThis is a sham controlled EEG neurofeedback study demonstrating long-term effects in resting state EEG.