Professor Ioannides kicked of this talk with a critique on neurofeedback. Mechanisms, impact and efficacy are discussed as open for research in this era of neurofeedback revolution. Most of the studies that do double blind studies present diminished results. The proposition is that maybe the way to explore and classify results may be erroneous.

Reasons include:

Between subjects variations are very difficult to lock down.

Inability to quantify volitional against involuntary effects. Also trying to control brain behavior through bodily functions presents generalization problems.

The overall problem is focused on being too rigorous given the breadth of diversification in the subject base. This approach for something as personalized as neurofeedback is postulated to be ineffective.  The SFB is a great opportunity to have a large user base so that we can put in place a rigorous but technique adapted evaluation method for neurofeedback with new mathematical methods that need to be defined. A beautiful metaphor is used for neurofeedback and its limitations that of a mother. While not perfect it is crucial to treatment if limitations are recognized and its specificity qualities and constraints are respected. 

Saturday, October 8, 2016 - 16:45