ISNR 16th Annual Conference - International Society for Neurofeedback & Research) - San Antonio, Texas | August 28-September 1, 2008
ELIJA Conference
Title: EEG Operant Conditioning as a treatment for Autistic disorders.
Presenter: Robert Coben, PhD
Location: Marriott Residence Inn, 9 Gerhard Road
Plainview, New York 11803
Time: 9am to 3pm
Cost: $50
Abstract: Autistic disorders have multi-system impact with significant adverse effects on the development of the central nervous system. The neurobiological study of autistic disorders has shown problems related to neural connectivity. This has been demonstrated at multiple levels of analyses including neuropathological, fMRI, MRI-DTI and EEG studies. As such, therapeutic interventions of significance should lead to improvements in neural connectivity.
EEG operant conditioning is a form of biofeedback in which behavioral modification of brain activity occurs. Data has shown success with this as a treatment for ADHD and Seizure Disorders. There is recent evidence of its’ efficacy for ADHD with evidence of enhancement of brain activity as demonstrated by fMRI.
During this presentation, data will presented to demonstrate the beginning efficacy of this approach in the treatment of autistic disorders. Intervention is guided by EEG connectivity data. Presented will be information of how EEG data may be used in a non-intrusive fashion to measure neural connectivity and guide treatment protocols.
We have shown that specific connectivity guided EEG training approaches: (1) are effective in reducing autistic symptoms; (2) lead to therapeutic changes on measures of EEG connectivity and power; (3) these changes are localizable and predictable; and (4) improvements in symptoms and EEG activity are long lasting.
Presenter Bio: Dr. Robert Coben received his Ph.D. in 1991 and has been a licensed psychologist in the state of New York since 1994. He is the Director and Chief Neuropsychologist of a private clinic in NY, which is also an affiliated research site with NYU’s Brain Research Lab. His post-doctoral training in clinical and rehabilitation neuropsychology was done at the UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in California. Dr. Coben is board-certified in EEG biofeedback (BCIA Associate Fellow) and a Diplomat of the QEEG Certification Board. He is a member in good standing of the American Psychological Association, International Neuropsychological Society, International Society for Neurofeedback and Research, and the American Association of Psychophysiology and Biofeedback.
He was recently bestowed the honor of Fellowship status from the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research, for which he is also on the Board of Directors, Committee Chair and Consulting Editor for the Journal of Neurotherapy. Dr. Coben recently received grant funding from both the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research and the American Association of Psychophysiology and Biofeedback to perform research into the efficacy of EEG operant conditioning for autistic disorders.
Learning Objectives will include:
- The learner will understand autism as a disorder of neuroinflammation adversely impacting neural connectivity.
- The learner will appreciate how EEG data can be used to measure brain functioning and neural connectivity.
- The learner will gain knowledge regarding the application of EEG biofeedback/operant training in the treatment of autistic disorders.
