Neurofeedback Training for Autism in Malaysia (Research Article)

Article 1
Ever wondering how to improve cognitive functioning of ASD?
Basic cognitive function impairment in autism spectrum disorder can be reduced through neurofeedback treatment including cognitive, social and attention domains.
Source:
Mekkawy, L. (2021). Efficacy of neurofeedback as a treatment modality for children in the autistic spectrum. Bulletin of the National Research Centre, 45(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42269-021-00501-5
Retrieved from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42269-021-00501-5
 
Article 2
ASD children are lacking sociability, they tend to avoid eyes contact and refuse to connect with the world.
Appropriate brain responses, behaviour and emotions were linked during social interactions and thus resulted in significant symptom reduction for children with ASD.
Source:
Friedrich, E. V., Sivanathan, A., Lim, T., Suttie, N., Louchart, S., Pillen, S., & Pineda, J. A. (2015). An effective neurofeedback intervention to improve social interactions in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 45(12), 4084–4100. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2523-5
Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26210513/
 
Article 3
To improve social interaction in ASD children, training their mirror neurons is utmost important.
The findings of strong correlations between behavioural improvements and activation changes specifically in these brain regions (human mirror neuron system) support the use of mu-rhythm neurofeedback training to improve clinical outcomes for individuals on the autism spectrum.
** human mirror neuron system (hMNS) is a potential neurobiological substrate for many aspects of human social cognition, particularly those directly relevant to the behavioural and cognitive deficits observed in ASD.
Source:
Datko, M., Pineda, J. A., Müller, R., & Wallace, M. (2017). Positive effects of neurofeedback on autism symptoms correlate with brain activation during imitation and observation. European Journal of Neuroscience, 47(6). https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.13551 
Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314133941_Positive_effects_of_neurofeedback_on_autism_symptoms_correlate_with_brain_activation_during_imitation_and_observation
 
Article 4
ASD children can be trained to minimize their ASD symptoms and help them to have a better socializing skill.
Several case studies using QEEG and neurofeedback with individuals diagnosed with ASD have reported significant clinical symptomatic improvements for communication, socialization, anxiety, attention and even medication reduction or elimination.
Source:
Robert, C., Michael, L., & Thomas, E. M. (2010). Neurofeedback for Autistic Spectrum Disorder: A review of the literature. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback, 35, 83–105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-009-9117-y 
Retrieved from: https://europepmc.org/article/med/19856096
 
Article 5                         
Training ASD children’s brain can bring more benefits to themselves in improving their functioning.
Reciprocal social interactions, communication skills, set-shifting skills improved after neurofeedback treatment. Results suggest that neurofeedback treatment has the potential to become an important and prominent intervention for children with ASD.
Source:
Kouijzer, M. E. J., van Schie, H. T., de Moor, J. M. H., Gerrits, B. J. L., & Buitelaar, J. K. (2010). Neurofeedback treatment in autism. Preliminary findings in behavioural, cognitive and neurophysiological functioning. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4, 386-399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2009.10.007
Retrieved from:
https://www.brainmaster.com/software/pubs/brain/Kouijzer_2010_NFB_Autism.pdf
 
 
Article 6
One of the waves in our brain acts as a key to help ASD children initiate socialization.
Our findings showed that the implementation of neurofeedback sessions improved Theta brainwave, which leads to better social communication.
Source:
Hemmati, S., Vameghi, R., Sajedi, F., Gharib, M., Pourmohammadreza-Tajrishi, M., & Teymori, R. (2016). The effect of neurofeedback on brain waves in children with Autism spectrum disorders. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, 14(3), 133-138. https://doi.org/10.18869/nrip.irj.14.3.133
Retrieved from: http://irj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-563-en.pdf
 
 
Article 7
Tremendous improvement showed in ASD children after neurofeedback training
Improvements achieved through neurofeedback training include increases social and daily living skills, as well as communication and relationship advances.
Source:
Coben, R., & Myers, T. E. (2010). The relative efficacy of connectivity guided and symptom-based EEG biofeedback for autistic disorders. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 35(1), 13-23. doi:10.1007/s10484-009-9102-5
Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19649702/
 
Article 8
Neurofeedback training improves not only social issues in ASD children, but also other common emotional and behavioral management issues.
Neurofeedback has shown promise in improving the negative symptoms associated with autism such as repetitive behaviours, aggression, problems with communication and social ineptness.
Source:
Akhawan, R. (2018). The efficacy of neurofeedback in the treatment of Autism [Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies]. ScholarWorks.
Retrieved from: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7243&context=dissertations
 
Article 9
The use of mu rhythms in neurofeedback training is prominent in reducing ASD symptoms.
The results showed that symptoms in children with ASD have been reduced through the use of neurofeedback by targeting training to the mirror neuron system (MNS) via modulation of EEG mu rhythms.
Source:
Pineda, J. A., Carrasco, K., Datko, M., Pillen, S., & Schalles, M. (2014). Neurofeedback training produces normalization in behavioural and electrophysiological measures of high-functioning autism. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences, 369(1644), 20130183. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2013.0183
Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4006184/
 
Article 10
ASD children are able to improve their functioning to connect better with same age peers.
The results have shown most changes in behaviour (less aggressive, more cooperation, better communication), attention span and sensory-motor skills. According to the assessment of parents, teachers, therapists and other experts all children have accomplished a certain degree of improvement in the level of daily functioning.
Source:
Zivoder, I., Martic-Biocina, S., Kosic, A. V., & Bosak, J. (2015). Neurofeedback application in the treatment of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). In Psychiatria Danubina, 27, 55- 291
Retrieved from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290290548_Neurofeedback_application_in_the_treatment_of_autistic_spectrum_disorders_ASD
 
Article 11
The social cognition issues in ASD can be reduced by training their brain.
Study providing moderate evidence for improvement in social cognition deficit following neurofeedback training with theta/ beta protocol in ASD population.
Source:
Kumari, M., & Sharma, A. (2020). Neurofeedback Training for Social Cognitive Deficits: Systematic Review. International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering (IJOE), 16(10), 151. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v16i10.15923
 
Retrieved from:
https://www.online-journals.org/index.php/i-joe/article/view/15923
 
Article 12
Neurofeedback improves their cognition skills that they are able to picking up communication skills.
After neurofeedback therapy, the patient began to use eight different single words, and his social responsiveness became significantly better. He demonstrated an increased ability to follow instructions, and his attention span increased.
Source:
Eroglu, G., & Ekici, B. (2020). Neurofeedback improves EEG complexity and social interaction in a boy with autism: A case report. Journal of Surgery and Medicine. https://doi.org/10.28982/josam.638667
Retrieved from: https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/1015398
 
Article 13
ASD children got to improve their language domain, including understanding and communicating after neurofeedback training.
The participant showed observable improvement in language comprehension and expression according to the subscale of the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC).
Source:
Mutang, J. A., Chua, B. S., Madlan, L. W., Bullare Bahari, M. I., & Soidi, T. (2018). Neurofeedback training to improve comprehension and expression of ASD child: A case study. International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics, 118(24), 1314-3395.
 
Retrieved from: https://acadpubl.eu/hub/2018-118-24/1/58.pdf
 
Article 14
Will all the improvement have shown in my ASD children back to square one after the neurofeedback training had been terminated? How stable and long-lasting is the effect of neurofeedback training?
The enduring effects of neurofeedback have been follow-up by researchers after the treatment period has ended one year. Analysis revealed there is a significant increase of all executive functions, including cognitive flexibility, planning skills, inhibition and attention skills. Another study also reported that there is no loss of nonverbal communication and general communication.
Source:
Coben, R. (2013). Neurofeedback for autistic disorders: emerging empirical evidence. In: Casanova, M. F., El-Baz, A. S., & Suri, J. S. (Eds.). Imaging the brain in autism. Springer, 107–134.
Retrieved from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289951696_Neurofeedback_for_Autistic_Disorders_Emerging_Empirical_Evidence
 
Article 15
The improvement is significant and prominent in ASD children after neurofeedback training.
The studies have confirmed that there is a significant improvement in sustained attention as well as in speech/language communication, sociability, health/ physical behaviour subscales.
Source:
Hurt, E., Arnold, L. E., & Lofthouse, N. (2014). Quantitative EEG neurofeedback for the treatment of paediatric Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Learning Disorders, and Epilepsy. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 23(3), 465 486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2014.02.001 
Retrieved from:
https://www.childpsych.theclinics.com/article/S1056-4993(14)00023-6/abstract