Exploring the Impact of Biofeedback on the Inhibitory Control of Healthy Older Adults
Condition: Inhibition
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Inhibitory control refers to the conscious and voluntary suppression of predominant responses
      when they are automatic, inappropriate, or incorrect. Inhibitory control plays a key role in
      self-regulation and self-control behaviors in many different areas of everyday life. During
      aging, their decline would impact executive functioning and mental health.

      Recently, physiological training methods including heart rate variability biofeedback
      (HRV-BF), based on heart rate and respiration measurements, and hemoencephalography
      biofeedback (nirHEG NF), based on the hemodynamic response of some prefrontal regions, have
      proven to have a positive impact on executive functions. In this study, subjects of the
      experimental group were exposed to biofeedback training during 10 sessions, once a week, and
      their results compared to those of the control group, which did not receive biofeedback
      training.

      This study aims to explore the impact of training that combines two innovative techniques,
      such as heart rate variability biofeedback and hemoencephalography biofeedback on the
      inhibitory control of older adults. We expect positive effects of biofeedback training on the
      inhibition tasks and the targeted physiological parameters.

      Primary objective - We intend to demonstrate that heart rate variability biofeedback training
      coupled with hemoencephalography biofeedback training can be effective methods to counteract
      the decline of inhibitory control in older adults.

      Secondary objective - We intend to demonstrate that heart rate variability biofeedback and
      hemoencephalography biofeedback can effectively increase heart rate variability and blood
      flood oxygenation.
    

Detailed description: 
      This is a pilot, randomized controlled study that aims to explore the effects of the
      combination of two interventions, HRV-BF and nirHEG neurofeedback, on the inhibitory control
      of healthy older adults. The study is thus designed with two parallel groups: the
      experimental group will receive sessions of HRV-BF and nirHEG NF whereas the control group
      will receive sessions in which visual biofeedback will be disabled.

      The three tasks used in the present study to appraise inhibitory control are Go/no Go, The
      Arrow task and Stroop task whereas impulsive behaviour will be evaluated with the UPPS scale.
      In addition, the feeling of self-efficacity and the attitude toward stereotypes will also be
      assessed with respectively the Self-efficacity scale and l'Echelle du moral. All these tasks
      will be administered at pretest and posttest intervention.

      Procedures Healthy older adults will be recruited by public advertisements and flyers posted
      at the Universities of Geneva, in sport clubs and various seniors associations.

      After a verbal consent and an initial telephone interview (anamnestic questionnaire and
      F-TICS-m-Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status questionnaire, Vercambre et al.,2010), the
      eligible participants will be asked to attend a first visit during which written informed
      consent will be obtained.

      After confirmation of eligibility and enrolment, the 50 selected participants will be
      randomly assigned to an experimental or a control group each group counting about 25
      subjects. First, both study groups will be evaluated with a battery of inhibition and
      psychological testing. Then, the experimental group (n=25) will receive 10 biofeedback
      training sessions (heart rate variability plus hemoencephalography neurofeedback, 1 hour
      session, once a week for 10 weeks. The control group (n=25) will receive sessions in which
      visual biofeedback will be disabled.

      Both study groups will be evaluated at 2 points - pre and post training on inhibitory
      control, impulsivity, heart rate variability levels, hemodynamic response, feeling of
      self-efficacity and attitude toward aging.
    

Intervention name(s): Heart rate variability biofeedback; haemoncephalography biofeedback
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Ten 25-minute weekly heart rate variability biofeedback and 30 minute haemoencephalogrphy biofeedback sessions
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Treatment