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Review

Designing a Successful Neurofeedback Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Published Online:May 08, 2020https://doi.org/10.1024/2235-0977/a000303

Abstract

Abstract. The goal of this article was to highlight important issues that have to be considered when designing an electroencephalography (EEG)-based neurofeedback training for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and to provide practical advice for a successful implementation. Autism is a heterogeneous and complex disorder, which leads to a broad and varied profile of symptoms as well as to huge individual differences between the affected children. This is why the neurofeedback training protocol has to be individually designed based on the specific symptoms as well as in consideration of the existing theories about aberrant brain activity, and why it then needs to be evaluated empirically. Furthermore, neurofeedback training has to be optimized individually regarding the specific control signal, feedback and practical implementations in order to lead to the desired improvements.


Erfolgreiche Neurofeedback-Trainings für Kinder mit Autismus-Spektrum-Störung

Zusammenfassung. Das Ziel dieser Studie war es, auf die Herausforderungen eines Elektroenzephalographie (EEG)-basierten Neurofeedback Trainings für Kinder mit einer Autismus-Spektrum-Störung aufmerksam zu machen und praktische Tipps für eine erfolgreiche Umsetzung zu geben. Autismus ist eine komplexe und heterogene Störung. Dies führt zu einer großen Palette an unterschiedlichen Symptomen sowie zu großen individuellen Unterschieden zwischen den betroffenen Kindern. Deshalb sollte das Neurofeedback Training basierend auf den spezifischen Symptomen und in Betracht der Literatur über zugrundeliegende Störungen der Gehirnnetzwerke individuell konzipiert und dann empirisch getestet werden. Zusätzlich sollte das Neurofeedback Training bezüglich des Kontrollsignals, des Feedbacks und der praktischen Implementierung individuell optimiert werden um die gewünschten Verbesserungen zu erzielen.

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