| Popis: |
Interest in the relationship between neural functions and emotions has focused particularly on comparisons of activation in the left and right dorsolateral frontal cortices. Beginning with the investigations of Davidson and colleagues, the alpha EEG frequency has been used as a measure of hypoactivity, and there has been general agreement among researchers that mood is more positive when the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is more hypoactive than the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. A practical application of this theoretical approach was developed when Dr. J. Peter Rosenfeld and colleagues designed an experiment in which they demonstrated that cortical asymmetry (A-score) could be modified in normal subjects by using a simple operant conditioning program. Their findings, in which nine of 13 subjects were successfully trained, were replicated by Allen et al . (2001). Encouraged by these results, neurofeedback protocols were developed to try with a small group of clinical patients who were suffering from various mood disorders. This chapter reviews the extensive theoretical literature that has been published since Davidson's original investigations. It reviews the results of the Baehr group's first study, and presents follow-up data from one to 10 years post-therapy. In addition, it reports on studies utilizing the asymmetry protocol to study shifts in mood, and on studies of asymmetry changes in women who suffer from premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It also reports on other asymmetry protocols designed to alleviate depression. |
