Informatics Publishing Limited

Ali Yadollahpour ¹, Abdolhossein Bagdeli ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Golestan Blvd., Ahvaz, IR

Abstract

Brain computer interface (BCI) is relatively new technology aiming at assisting, augmenting, or repairing human cognitive or sensory-motor functions. Recent advances in bio-signal processing as well as advances in neuro-imaging techniques have boosted BCI development. The most important barrier in developing BCI technology is currently the lack of a sensor modality that provides safe, accurate and robust access to brain signals. However, recent advances in biosensor technology, signal processing and new insights into association between EEG-based measures and mental states and advances in high resolution EEG measurements have dramatically revolutionized the BCI development. The present study reviews the basic principles of BCI, recent advances and future directions of the technology.

Keywords

Brain Computer Interface (BCI), EEG, Motor Functions.

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Ali Yadollahpour ¹, Mahmud Naraqi Arani ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR

Abstract

Depression is one of the most common and debilitating diseases worldwide, especially in industrialized countries. Depression is traditionally managed with psychological, pharmacological, or physical interventions alone or in combination forms. However, all of the conventional methods have various limitations, such as medication side effects, frequent relapse, and high economics costs. In addition, a significant portion of the depressive disorders are treatment-refractory that do not respond to the usual medications. These different challenges emphasize the need for effective alternative treatment for depression. Neurofeedback technique (NFT) is a noninvasive and non-drug treatment through which patients learn to modulate their brain activities using repeated practice to eliminate the disease-specific patterns in electroencephalogram (EEG) of the patient. NFT emphasizes on the correlation between EEG and cognitive and behavioral disorders. There are several clinical protocols for NFT in treatment of Depression. All of these protocols aim to shift the brain activities, EEG waves, from disorder into normal state. Therefore, in developing efficient NFT for depression or any other disorders, determining the EEG based indices which are specifically correlated with different cognitive states is necessary. Several protocols have been developed based on these indices for depressive disorders and some of them are clinically used. Left to the right hemisphere alpha predominance, decreasing Theta/Beta ratio in left prefrontal cortex, decreasing left- or increasing right- hemispheric alpha activity, shifting an asymmetry index toward the right to rebalance activation levels in favor of the left hemisphere are some of the main protocols. This paper reviews the basic principles of NFT, its procedures and protocols for the treatment of depressive disorders and clinical outcomes.

Keywords

Neurofeedback, Biofeedback, Depression, Electroencephalography, Quantitative Electroencephalography, Treatment.

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Ali Yadollahpour ¹, Halime Mansoury Asl ², Samaneh Rashidi ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR
2 Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR

Abstract

Objective: Attention is a higher cognitive function and its controlled manipulation has been always a research interest. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique with promising therapeutic outcomes in different neuropsychiatric disorders. Initial studies have shown potential efficacy of tDCS for enhancing attention in neuropsychiatric and healthy individuals. The present study aims to review the tDCS studies on modulating attention among healthy individuals. The potentials of this technique for controlled modulation of attention related performance are discussed. Methods: The databases of PubMed (1980-2016), Web of Sciences (1985-2016), PsychInfo (1985-2016), and Google Scholar (1980-2016) were explored using the search terms "transcranial direct current stimulation" or 'tDCS", "attention", " healthy individuals", and "modulation". The obtained results were screened for the title and abstract and the relevant papers were selected for a comprehensive review. Results: Ten studies were included in this review. The protocols applied for improving attention in healthy subjects to modulate attention under different attention specific tasks are discussed. Although studies on attention modulation in healthy individuals are in initial step, the outcomes are relatively promising. The most frequent used regions of brain were dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and right inferior frontal gyrus. The current density ranging 30-35 μA/cm² and anodal over left DLPFC can enhance attention in healthy individuals. Conclusion: Current evidence shows relative efficiency of tDCS for controlled modulation of attention in healthy individuals. For clinical application of this technique as an alternative or adjunctive modality of attention modulation further controlled studies are needed.

Keywords

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Healthy Individual, Attention, Modulation.

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Ali Yadollahpour ¹, Samaneh Rashidi ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR
2 Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common disorder of the musculoskeletal system and a major burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Different modalities have been developed for the treatment and management of OA. In recent years, electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have shown positive therapeutic effects in this disorder. Several studies have investigated the effectiveness of different EMFs for the treatment of OA with controversial but promising outcomes. This study aims to comprehensively review the recent advances in applications of EMFs for the treatment of OA as alternative or adjunctive treatment. In addition, the mechanisms of action of EMFs in exerting therapeutic outcomes as well as clinical perspectives are discussed.

Keywords

Osteoarthritis, Electromagnetic Fields, Treatment, Clinical Applications, Mechanism of Action.

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