Study of Brain Activations and Physiological Responses Using NeuroBiofeedback in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by inflammation, demyelination, gliosis, and neuronal loss. Neurological symptoms may include visual disturbances, numbness and tingling, focal weakness, bladder and bowel incontinence, and cognitive impairment. Some previous studies have indicated that the NeuroBiofeedback (NBF) technique could be a promising new treatment for the rehabilitation of many neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, including MS. Several studies have investigated the beneficial effects of this technique on the motor and cognitive outcomes of MS, mainly aiming to evaluate motor performance, fatigue and chronic pain. Few studies have focused on the evaluation and treatment of cognitive processes with NBF, except for one study on information processing speed. Specifically, regarding the application of NBF techniques in MS, recent literature has demonstrated that modulation of the alpha-theta rhythm has led to an improvement in attentional processes with consequent reduction in anxiety. Therefore, the objective of this study is to verify the effectiveness of NBF training on the modulation of cortical activity and physiological responses through the exposure of subjects with MS to cognitive tasks and training for mood regulation.