Coping food craving with neurofeedback. Evaluation of the usefulness of alpha/theta training in a non-clinical sample

Publication date: Available online 12 November 2016
Source:International Journal of Psychophysiology
Author(s): Claudio Imperatori, Enrico Maria Valenti, Giacomo Della Marca, Noemi Amoroso, Chiara Massullo, Giuseppe Carbone, Giulia Maestoso, Maria Isabella Quintiliani, Anna Contardi, Benedetto Farina
The aim of the present study was to explore the usefulness of the alpha/theta (A/T) training in reducing Food Craving (FC) in a non-clinical sample. The modifications of electroencephalographic (EEG) power spectra associated with A/T training was also investigated. Fifty subjects were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to receive ten sessions of A/T training [neurofeedback group (NFG)=25], or to act as controls [waiting list group (WLG)=25]. All participants were administered the Food Cravings Questionnaire-Trait, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire and the Symptom Check list 90. In the post training assessment, compared to the WLG, the NFG showed a significant reduction of intentions and plans to consume food (F1; 49=4.90; p=.033; d=0.626) and of craving as hunger (F1; 49=8.09; p=.007; d=803). In NFG, changes in FC persisted after 4months follow-up. Furthermore, A/T training was also associated with significant increase of resting state EEG alpha power in several brain areas involved in FC (e.g., insula) and food cue reactivity (e.g., parahippocampal gyrus, inferior and superior temporal gyrus). Taken together, our results showed that ten sessions of A/T training are associated with a decrease of self-reported FC in a non-clinical sample. The findings suggest that this brain-directed intervention may be useful in the treatment of dysfunctional eating behaviors characterized by FC.



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