New Directions in Live Z-Score Neurofeedback

1. New Directions in Live Z-Score Neurofeedback Thomas F. Collura, Ph.D. BrainMaster Technologies, Inc. August 11, 2010

2. Current LZT Methods • Individual Z-Scores • Range Training • Multiple Range Training • PZOK

3. LZT Display

8. Current Status • PZOK can train “inliers” or “outliers” • Narrow Targets, low percentage = challenge – ignores outliers • Wide Targets, high percentage = non-challenge – emphasizes outliers

9. Motivation for Z-Plus • Continue with PZOK, add new capability • Train outliers by their tendency to move inward • Monitor global tendency toward normal • Watch z-scores in action

10. PZOK Training

12. Z-Plus • Z-Motive • Z-Mean • Z-Bars • Z-Maps

13. Z-Motive • Measures instantaneous change in all z-scores outside the targets • Negative (<0) if z-scores are moving away • Positive (>0) if z-scores are moving toward normal • Maximum value = 100 if all z-scores suddenly go inside their targets • “Tendency to normalize”

14. ZMotive

15. Z-Mean • Mean (absolute value) distance of all z-scores that are outside targets • Reflects average size of all outlying z-scores • Typical value: 2.0 – 4.0. • Changes “slowly” • “How abnormal are we?”

16. Z-Mean

17. Z-Plus Event TrendsSimulation

18. Z-Plus Event TrendsLive EEG Training

19. Z-Plus Event TrendsWidening Target Sizes

20. Z-Bars • Shows each and every Z-Score in two forms • One: Bar graph showing average (damped) value • Two: line and dot showing most recent change • Allows use to visualize all Z-Scores at once • See which Z-Scores are important

21. Z-Bars Delta Absolute Power19 channels

22. Z-Bars 4 channels 248 Z-Scores

23. Z-Bars Delta Coherence 19-channel

24. 19-channel Coherence (partial)

25. Planetary Analogy • Targets = “sun” • Z-Scores = “planets” • PZOK = “how many planets are within the defined range • PZMO = “what is the tendency to move inward” (gravity) • PZME = “how far are they on average (size of solar system) • GOAL: A compact (normal) solar system

26. Sun and Planets

27. Z-Plus - Summary • New metrics to guide and assess training • New displays to visualize changes • Enhanced visibility of brain dynamics • Addresses Outliers directly • Addresses Global level of normality • Appeals to notion of z-scores as “planets” and normality as “gravity”