Stefanie Enriquez-Geppert

University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands · Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology

The EEG theta band displays distinct roles in resting and task states. Low resting theta and transient increases in frontal-midline (fm) theta power during tasks are associated with better cognitive control, such as error monitoring. ADHD can disrupt this balance, resulting in high resting theta linked to drowsiness and low fm-theta activity associ...

Piloting is a complex task that demands robust cognitive functions to handle multiple tasks simultaneously in a constantly changing environment. As a result, cognitive abilities, particularly executive functions (EFs), have gained significant importance in relation to flight performance. However, the specific EFs most critical for predicting flight...

Introduction: Mild behavioral impairment (MBI), and particularly its impulse dyscontrol domain, has been linked to brain alterations suggestive of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in subjects without dementia. We aimed to analyze the association of impulse dyscontrol with the loss of integrity in white-matter brain tracts in a group of cognitively normal o...

Major depressive disorder (MDD) can lead to cognitive dysfunction. The objective is to assess associative episodic memory and subjective memory complaints in daily life in people with a first episode of depression (FED). Analytical observational design. Fifteen patients with FED mean age 50.20 (8.04) years and 15 healthy control (HCtrl) mean age 45...

The Learning and Associative Memory (LAM) test is a face-name associative memory test created to detect early Alzheimer's disease (AD). In a recent study, it was administered to cognitively healthy individuals with different levels of amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau burden. The key findings for LAM were: 1) selective correlations with Aβ levels, 2) unique d...

Background Cognitive and daily functioning are conceptually critical in distinguishing Mild Cognitive Impairments (MCI) from dementia (Petersen, 2004), but findings on the association between the two have not always been consistent (e.g., Putcha & Tremont, 2016; Teng et al., 2010). We aimed to investigate whether cognitive functions could predict d...

Background Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias (Langa & Levine, 2014). It has been suggested that a late event‐related potential (ERP) called the late positive potential (LPP) is related to cognitive functioning including sustained attention and reaction time in people with MCI (Waninger e...

Widespread executive function deficits impair daily functioning in psychiatric disorders. In this group, reduced frontal-midline-theta neurofeedback responsiveness may be related to impaired neural plasticity. In our pioneering study, we investigated the feasibility and practicality of integrating a neuroplasticity agent by psilocybin-assisted neur...

& STATEMENT OF IMPACTSARS-COV-2 infection can result in acute and long-lasting cognitive complaints, causing ongoing impairments in daily life which poses a challenge to society. Consequently, the evaluation and characterization of cognitive complaints, specifically in the domain of executive functions (EFs) affecting daily life, is imperative in f...

Las personas con depresión pueden presentar problemas cognitivos que se manifiestan como problemas en la memoria, la atención, la velocidad de procesamiento y las funciones ejecutivas. Sin embargo, una de las principales quejas de estas personas hace referencia a la memoria (Hammar & Ardal., 2013; Vázquez et al., 2010), incluyendo la memoria asocia...

Impairments in executive functions (EFs) are common across disorders and can greatly affect daily functioning. Frontal-midline (FM) theta neurofeedback (NF) has been shown effective in enhancing EFs in healthy adults, prompting interest in exploring its potential as an alternative treatment for EFs in (sub)clinical samples. This study aims to deter...

Introduction: Currently, major depressive disorder (MDD) treatment plans are based on trial-and-error, and remission rates remain low. A strategy to replace trial-and-error and increase remission rates could be treatment stratification. We explored the heartbeat-evoked potential (HEP) as a biomarker for treatment stratification to either antidepre...

Impairments in executive functions (EFs) are common across psychological disorders. Research into the neural oscillations underlying EFs has the potential to help understand these impairments and contribute to the development of interventions. The aim of this study is to assess theta power and functional theta connectivity in the sensor space of th...

Memory problems that are characteristic of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) are often accompanied by difficulties in attention and executive functions (EF). Studies have consistently reported atrophy of the hippocampus and its association with memory decline in aMCI. However, it is less clear whether differences in grey matter volume (GMV)...

Objective: The cognitive characterization of Alzheimer’s disease risk states, such as amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and subjective cognitive decline (SCD), is fundamental for timely diagnosis and interventions. The Face Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) is sensitive to early Alzheimer’s disease brain changes, and an extended version...

In recent years there has been an increasing interest in understanding the role apathy plays in mediating the relationship between cognitive impairment and functional outcome. In general, most studies measure cognition with traditional cognitive tests that give explicit instructions and guide the participants toward generating a response. However,...

Self-relevant stimuli seem to automatically draw attention, but it is unclear whether this comes at a cost for processing subsequent stimuli, and whether the effect is depending on one’s mental state (i.e. depression). To address this question, we performed two experiments. In Experiment 1, 45 participants were to report two words (T1 and T2) in an...

Although the presence of anosognosia in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) may be predictive of conversion to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), little is known about its neural correlates in AD and aMCI. Four different groups were compared using volumetric and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging metrics in regions of interest (hippocampus and cingu...

Es fundamental que en el área del envejecimiento se dispongan de pruebas cognitivas específicas, sensibles, válidas transculturalmente y útiles, tanto en investigación como en el ámbito clínico (Patterson, 2018). Varios trabajos han sugerido que la prueba de memoria asociativa cara-nombre (FNAME) podría ser una herramienta válida, fiable y sensibl...

Introduction The Face Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) is sensitive to associative memory changes early in the Alzheimer’s disease spectrum, but little is known about how healthy aging affects FNAME performance. We aimed to assess aging effects on an extended version of the test, which captures further associative memory abilities beyond the re...

Purpose Recent reviews have proposed that scientifically validated standard EEG neurofeedback (NF) protocols are an efficacious and specific treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Here, we review the current evidence for the treatment efficacy and clinical effectiveness of NF in ADHD to investigate whether NF treatment perso...

Background Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) represents a state in which a participant perceives a decline in cognitive functions, yet standardized psychological tests remain within expected performance compared to age‐ and education‐matched controls. SCD is growingly recognized as a risk state for mild cognitive decline (MCI), and eventually, dem...

Background The Face‐Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) has been shown to detect memory deficits early in the spectrum of Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, we used a newly developed and further extended version of the FNAME, to evaluate the discriminating ability of this test in amnestic cognitive decline (aMCI), amnestic subjective cognitive de...

These authors contributed equally to this work. All other authors are listed in reverse alphabetical order. Neurofeedback has begun to attract the attention and scrutiny of the scientific and medical mainstream. Here, neurofeedback researchers present a consensus-derived checklist that aims to improve the reporting and experimental design standards...

Objective The Face-Name Associative Memory test (FNAME) has recently received attention as a test for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. So far, however, there has been no systematic investigation of the effects of aging. Here, we aimed to assess the extent to which the FNAME performance is modulated by normal ageing. Method In a first step,...

Neurofeedback has begun to attract the attention and scrutiny of the scientific and medical mainstream. Here, neurofeedback researchers present a consensus-derived checklist that aims to improve the reporting and experimental design standards in the field.

Many individuals with severe mental disorders have difficulties in vocational and social functioning, which are regarded the most important outcomes, together with clinical symptoms. To understand the underlying mechanisms, research is increasingly focused on factors influencing functional outcomes. One established association has been shown betwee...

Purpose of Review Current traditional treatments for ADHD present serious limitations in terms of long-term maintenance of symptom remission and side effects. Here, we provide an overview of the rationale and scientific evidence of the efficacy of neurofeedback in regulating the brain functions in ADHD. We also review the institutional and professi...

Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird dem Leser ein Einblick in den aktuellen Stand der klinischen Neurofeedback-Interventionen sowie der Forschung zum Neurofeedback (NF) gegeben. (i) Die Einführung umfasst die Methode, Wirkungsmechanismen und derzeitige Einsatzbereiche. (ii) Es folgt die Darstellung von NF als evidenzbasiertes Verfahren in der Therapie von...

This checklist is intended to encourage robust experimental design and clear reporting for clinical and cognitive-behavioural neurofeedback experiments.

This checklist is intended to encourage robust experimental design and clear reporting for clinical and cognitive-behavioural neurofeedback experiments. Available at https://psyarxiv.com/nyx84

Traditionele behandelingen voor ADHD hebben beperkingen op het gebied van effectiviteit, langetermijneffecten en bijwerkingen. In dit artikel geven we een overzicht van belangrijke aspecten van neurofeedback bij ADHD en illustreren de huidige evidentie van neurofeedback als behandelingsoptie. Behandelingen met standaardneurofeedbackprotocollen kunn...

OBJECTIVES: Meningioma is the most common extra-axial tumour, however, little is known about the effect of the disease and its treatment on the brain, and patients functional and cognitive outcomes. We hypothesised that peri-operative factors can effect patients cognitive outcome. DESIGN: We aimed to identify clinical and radiological features asso...

Background: Negative symptoms in schizophrenia concern a clinically relevant reduction of goal-directed behavior that strongly and negatively impacts daily functioning. Existing treatments are of marginal effect and novel approaches are needed. Noninvasive neurostimulation by means of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcr...

Age-related neurocognitive effects have been observed at different levels ranging from reduced amplitudes of even-related potentials and brain oscillations, to topography changes of brain activity. However, their association remains incompletely understood. We investigated time-frequency and time-course effects in functional networks underlying the...

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effectiveness of EEG neurofeedback as treatment for inhibition and updating problems in children facing neurodevelopmental challenges.

In the last years, innovations in technology and methodology, as well as increased knowledge about cortical oscillations, have significantly impacted the advancement of new neurofeedback approaches. As such, sham-controlled studies, showing evidence for enhanced performance of cognition after self-regulation of brain activity, have been published....

Issue Section: Letters to the Editor

Background: depression is associated with worse executive function, but underlying mechanisms might differ by age. Aims: to investigate whether vascular disease burden affects the association between depression and executive dysfunction differentially by age. Method: among 83,613 participants of Lifelines (population-based cohort study), linea...

Neurofeedback is attracting renewed interest as a method to self-regulate one’s own brain activity to directly alter the underlying neural mechanisms of cognition and behavior. It not only promises new avenues as a method for cognitive enhancement in healthy subjects, but also as a therapeutic tool. In the current article, we present a review tutor...

In the last years, innovations in technology and methodology, as well as increased knowledge about cortical oscillations have significantly impacted the advancement of new neurofeedback approaches. As such, sham-controlled studies, showing evidence for enhanced performance of cognition after self-regulation of brain activity, have been published. E...

The ability to inhibit behavior is crucial for adaptation in a fast changing environment and is commonly studied with the stop signal task. Current EEG research mainly focuses on the N200 and P300 ERPs and corresponding activity in the theta and delta frequency range, thereby leaving us with a limited understanding of the mechanisms of response inh...

Obesity is associated with brain atrophy and deficits in the executive functions (EF). Here, we compared the performance of 36 obese and 15 normal weight control subjects in a cognitive test battery covering four components of the EFs; conflict monitoring (Stroop task), working memory updating (N-back task), motor inhibition (Go/NoGo task), and set...

Typical consequences in schizophrenia are work absence and early retirement. Such poor every day activities are associated with executive dysfunctioning. Under healthy conditions, successful executive functioning is associated to increased frontal-midline theta oscillations. Such event-related modulations are related to enhanced coupling between ne...

Obesity has been shown to be associated with deficits in executive functioning. Here, a randomised-controlled trial is introduced that tests the effects of a computerised cognitive training of the executive functions and its mediation effects on conventional exercise and dieting programs for obese individuals.

Frontal-midline (fm) theta oscillations as measured via the electroencephalogram (EEG) have been suggested as neural “working language” of executive functioning. Their power has been shown to increase when cognitive processing or task performance is enhanced. Thus, the question arises whether learning to increase fm-theta amplitudes would functiona...

There has been a lively debate whether conceptual representations of actions or scenes follow a left-to-right spatial transient when participants depict such events or scenes. It was even suggested that conceptualizing the agent on the left side represents a universal. We review the current literature with an emphasis on event representation and on...

Humans differ in their ability to learn how to control their own brain activity by neurofeedback. However, neural mechanisms underlying these inter-individual differences, which may determine training success and associated cognitive enhancement, are not well-understood. Here, it is asked whether neurofeedback success of frontal-midline (fm) theta,...

Conflict monitoring and motor inhibition are engaged in the performance of complex tasks. The midcingulate cortex (MCC) has been suggested to detect conflicts, whereas the right inferior frontal cortex (IFC) seems to be of relevance for the inhibition process. The current experiment investigates the neural underpinnings of their interplay via a mod...

The midcingulate cortex (MCC; often somewhat imprecisely referred to as dorsal or cognitive part of the anterior cingulate cortex or dACC) is a core region contributing to cognitive control. Neuroanatomical deviations in the midcingulate region have been observed in a variety of mental disorders. Even in healthy subjects a high degree of morphologi...

Response inhibition paradigms, as for example stop signal and go/no-go tasks, are often used to study cognitive control processes. Because of the apparent demand to stop a motor reaction, the electrophysiological responses evoked by stop and no-go trials have sometimes likewise been interpreted as indicators of inhibitory processes. Recent research...

Despite a growing number of studies, the neurophysiology of adult vocabulary acquisition is still poorly understood. One reason is that paradigms that can easily be combined with neuroscientfic methods are rare. Here, we tested the efficiency of two paradigms for vocabulary (re-) acquisition, and compared the learning of novel words for actions and...

Rating for Paradigm B – Rating verbs. This is a list of all the verbs rated for Paradigm B. On the questionnaire there were 4 items:1 Please name the given item. 2 Please rate its recognizability from 1–7. (1 being best) 3 How strong is the depicted item associated with motion? (7 being most) 4 How strong are different body parts (arm/hand, leg/foo...

Rating for Paradigm B – Rating objects. This is a list of all the objects rated for Paradigm B. On the questionnaire there were 4 items: 1 Please name the given item. 2 Please rate its recognizability from 1–7. (1 being best) 3 How strong is the depicted item associated with motion? (7 being most) 4 How strong are different body parts (arm/hand, le...

Results of neuropsychological testing. (DOC)

Rating for Paradigm A. This is a list of all body related actions rated for Paradigm A. On the questionnaire there were 8 questions: 1 Please name the given action. 2 Please rate its appropriateness. 3 Please rate its quality of depiction from 1–7. (1 being best) 4 Please name distractors if applicable. 5 How strong is the depicted item associated...

The idea that knowledge of events entails a universal spatial component, that is conceiving agents left of patients, was put to test by investigating native users of German sign language and native users of spoken German. Participants heard or saw event descriptions and had to illustrate the meaning of these events by means of drawing or arranging...

Current theoretical positions assume that action-related word meanings are established by functional connections between perisylvian language areas and the motor cortex (MC) according to Hebb's associative learning principle. To test this assumption, we probed the functional relevance of the left MC for learning of a novel action word vocabulary by...

Conflict and inhibition are considered to exert strong influences on the neurophysiological N200 and P300 brain responses as evoked in go/nogo and stop-signal tasks. In order to separate their underlying neural and functional mechanisms, the current experiment manipulated both conflict and inhibition. To do so, the go/nogo and stop-signal tasks wer...