Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental disorder that is associated with cognitive deficits. Impairments in cognition occur early in the course of illness and are associated with poor functional outcome, but have been difficult to treat with conventional treatments. Recent studies have implicated abnormal neural network dynamics and impaired connectivity in frontal brain regions as possible causes of cognitive deficits. For example, high-frequency, dorsal-lateral prefrontal oscillatory activity in the gamma range (30–50 Hz) is associated with impaired working memory in individuals with schizophrenia. In light of these findings, it may be possible to use EEG neurofeedback (EEG-NFB) to train individuals with schizophrenia to enhance frontal gamma activity to improve working memory and cognition. In a single-group, proof-of-concept study, 31 individuals with schizophrenia received 12 weeks of twice weekly EEG-NFB to enhance frontal gamma band response. EEG-NFB was well-tolerated, associated with increased gamma training threshold, and significant increases in frontal gamma power during an n-back working memory task. Additionally, EEG-NFB was associated with significant improvements in n-back performance and working memory, speed of processing, and reasoning and problem solving on neuropsychological tests. Change in gamma power was associated with change in cognition. Significant improvements in psychiatric symptoms were also found. These encouraging findings suggest EEG-NFB targeting frontal gamma activity may provide a novel effective approach to cognitive remediation in schizophrenia, although placebo-controlled trials are needed to assess the effects of non-treatment related factors.

精神分裂症是一种使人衰弱的精神障碍，与认知缺陷有关。认知障碍发生在疾病的早期，与不良的功能预后有关，但是很难用常规疗法进行治疗。最近的研究暗示异常的神经网络动力学和额叶大脑区域的连通性受损可能是造成认知缺陷的原因。例如，在精神分裂症患者中，γ范围（30–50 Hz）中的高频，背侧前额叶振荡活动与工作记忆受损有关。根据这些发现，可能有可能使用EEG神经反馈（EEG-NFB）训练患有精神分裂症的个体，以增强额叶γ活性，从而改善工作记忆和认知能力。在单组概念验证研究中，31名精神分裂症患者接受12周每周两次的EEG-NFB以增强额叶γ带反应。EEG-NFB具有良好的耐受性，与伽马训练阈值增加有关，并且在n背工作记忆任务期间额叶伽马能力显着增加。此外，EEG-NFB与n背表现和工作记忆，处理速度以及神经心理学测试的推理和问题解决能力的显着改善有关。伽玛能力的改变与认知能力的改变有关。还发现精神症状明显改善。这些令人鼓舞的发现表明，针对额叶γ活动的EEG-NFB可能为精神分裂症的认知修复提供一种新颖有效的方法，