Local Cerebral Blood Flow during Biofeedback Training

Abstract

Biofeedback (BF) is a means for gaining control of bodily processes to increase relaxation, relieve pain and improve health, among other benefits. A BF instrument has three tasks. First is to monitor (in some way) a physiological process of interest. Second is to measure (quantify) what is monitored. Third is to present what is monitored or measured as meaningful information. Electromyography (EMG) and BF are often used simultaneously to handle movement during a procedure. BF is a means for gaining control of bodily processes to increase relaxation, relieve pain and improve health, among other benefits. And BF training (BFT) is not only a technique used for enhancing health, but is predicted to affect the development and maintenance of brain function. One technique for non-invasive measurement of brain activity that has been developed in recent years is brain functional imaging using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Compared to other techniques of measurement of brain activity, NIRS is a low-restraint and non-invasive measuring technique. In addition, it enables a user to take electrophysiological measurements during activity, such as training or other movements. The connection between BFT and brain function surely will garner further attention in future, as current studies state that BFT involves not only voluntary movement of the extremities and joints, but also receives input from high-level integrative functions of the brain. And furthermore, BFT, which has garnered attention in recent years, has not only revealed the importance of mental training when performing an action, but also monitors subjects’ muscle performance and encourages learning of psychophysiological control. Here, we investigated the connection between BFT and local cerebral blood flow, by performing cranial NIRS with simultaneous electromyogram (EMG), recording from the rectus femoris muscle. Our results suggest that kicking action alters brain function, particularly in a manner that is predicted to activate working memory.