Pubblicazioni

Improving Cognitive Workload in Radiation Therapists A Pilot EEG Neurofeedback Study

MA, Campbell; M, Mattoni; MN, Yefimov; K, Adapa; LM, Mazur

Abstract:

Radiation therapy therapists (RTTs) face challenging daily tasks that leave them prone to high attrition and burnout and subsequent deficits in performance. Here, we employed an accelerated alpha-theta neurofeedback (NF) protocol that is implementable in a busy medical workplace to test if 12 RTTs could learn the protocol and exhibit behavior and brain performance-related benefits. Following the 3-week protocol, participants showed a decrease in subjective cognitive workload and a decrease in response time during a performance task, as well as a decrease in desynchrony of the alpha electroencephalogram (EEG) band. Additionally, novel microstate analysis for neurofeedback showed a significant decrease in global field power (GFP) following neurofeedback. These results suggest that the RTTs successfully learned the protocol and improved in perceived cognitive workload following 3 weeks of neurofeedback. In sum, this study presents promising behavioral improvements as well as brain performance-related evidence of neurophysiological changes following neurofeedback, supporting the feasibility of implementing neurofeedback in a busy workplace and encouraging the further study of neurofeedback as a tool to mitigate burnout.

Patologie/Applicazioni:

• Riabilitazione cognitiva
• Bio – Neurofeedback (NFB)

Anno:

2020

Tipo di pubblicazione:

Articolo

Parola chiave:

Neurofeedback; Carico cognitivo; Affaticamento mentale; Operatori sanitari; burnout; EEG; training cognitivo; training Alpha Theta

Testata scientifica:

Frontiers in Psychology

Nota:

Studio che applica sessioni di trattamento Neurofeedback con training Alpha/Theta per migliorare le condizioni lavorative dei radioterapisti (RTT) che affrontano compiti quotidiani impegnativi che li rendono inclini a un forte logoramento ed affaticamento con conseguenti deficit nelle prestazioni lavorative. Il training alpha/theta con soppressione alfa Pz prevedeva 24 min. La gamma di frequenza per alfa era 8-11 Hz e per theta era 5-8 Hz con il sensore attivo posizionato in Pz. I reward erano del 40-60% al di sopra della soglia per theta. In sintesi, i risultati positivi dei test cognitivo-comportamentali convergono per suggerire sia la fattibilità che i benefici pratici associati dell'implementazione di un intervento NF in un fitto programma di lavoro sanitario, in particolare per combattere i problemi associati al burnout.

DOI:

10.3389/fpsyg.2020.571739