Self-modulation of the Sense of Agency by Means of Real-time Neurofeedback

ETH Zurich225 enrolled

Overview

This study investigates whether the sense of agency is sensitive to self-regulation by means of EEG-based neurofeedback. During neurofeedback, the brain activity in response to a motor task is recorded in real-time and displayed back to the participants. The participants can therefore use this information to adapt their performance on the motor task.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

225

Conditions

Psychogenic Seizure Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe Health, Subjective

Interventions

Real NeurofeedbackBEHAVIORAL

During neurofeedback, the brain activity in response to a motor task is recorded in real-time and displayed back to the participants.

Sham NeurofeedbackBEHAVIORAL

During sham neurofeedback, a signal which resembles the participant's brain activity is used instead of the actual brain activity.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria (all): * Aged \> 18 years old * Normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity * Willing to participate in the study (by signing the informed consent form) * Neither caffein, nor alcohol intake 48 hours prior to the experiment * Regular intake of drugs (except oral contraceptives in women) * Employed by, or in a dependent relationship with, the sponsor and / or the investigator(s) * Sufficient knowledge of German or English to understand study documents and instructions. Inclusion Criteria (patients): * A diagnosis of temporal epilepsy (TE), documented via video EEG. OR * A diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizure (PNES), according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), and documented via video EEG. Exclusion Criteria (all): * Past surgery in the brain * History of alcohol or drug abuse * Incompatibility with EEG recordings, e.g., inability to stay seated for 90 minutes.

Locations (1)

ETH Zurich

Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Electrophysiological data, i.e., EEG power in alpha band

Brain activity

Time frame: Before and immediately after neurofeedback

Change in Electrophysiological data, i.e., EEG power in theta band

Brain activity

Time frame: Before and immediately after neurofeedback

Change in Electrophysiological data, i.e., EEG power in gamma band

Brain activity

Time frame: Before and immediately after neurofeedback

Change in the subjective perception of the Sense of Agency, i.e., visual analog scale assessing how much control participants feel over the game

Behavioural performance in response to manipulation of the Sense of Agency (SoA)

Time frame: Before and immediately after neurofeedback

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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