The pandemic has highlighted social, economic, educational, and political issues thathave affected the health and quality of life of millions of Brazilians. Currently,attention and memory impairment remains predominant among the cognitive symptoms ofCoronavirus observed in adults. The persistance of the reffered impairment after 12 weeksof COVID-19 is known as cognitive impairment in post-COVID-19 syndrome. Despite studiesindicating the negative effects of COVID-19 on attention and memory, there is a gap inthe literature regarding its effects on self-reflection and insight. Previous studieshighlight the role of self-awareness as an essential cognitive process that aids thecriation of a resolution for the social consequences of the ongoing pandemic. Thus,understanding the relationship between self-reflection, insight, memory, and quality oflife in adults that presented COVID-19 could reveal how memory loss might affect theability to evaluate and understand one's own behaviors and quality of life. Moreover,this study could provide a background for future interventions to enhance attention,memory, self-reflection, and insight in this population. In this context, quantitativeelectroencephalogram neurofeedback training (EEGq-NFT) is a promising non-invasiveintervention designed to improve cognition, such as attention and working memory. Bymodifying electrophysiological patterns in the cerebral cortex. Considering theinformation presented, the question is what is the relationship between cognitivefailures, self-reflection and insight, and quality of life in adults who had COVID-19,and what is the efficacy of EEGq-NFT training in rehabilitating attention and workingmemory in adults with cognitive impairment due to post-COVID-19 syndrome. This study aimsto examine the relationship between cognitive failures, self-reflection, insight, andquality of life in adults post-COVID-19, as well as to assess the efficacy of EEGq-NFT inimproving attention and working memory in adults with cognitive impairment due topost-COVID-19 syndrome. Method 1 will employ a survey with cross-sectional design andquantitative data analysis. A total of 385 adults will be recruted. Data will becollected through online forms. Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, Self-Reflection andInsight Scale and WHOQOL-bref scale will be used. In Method 2, a quasi-experimental withquantitative data analysis will be employed. A total of 60 participants will be randomlyassigned to an EEGq neurofeedback training group (n = 20), an active control group calledSHAM EEGq-neurofeedback (n = 20), and a waiting list control group (n = 20). Thetheta/beta ratio reduction protocol at Cz will be used, with 10 sessions of 30 minuteseach. The Psychological Battery of Attention 2 (BPA-2) and Digit Span Test will beemployed to measure attention and working memory levels. Statistical analyses will beperformed using IBM SPSS version 25 with statistical significance set at p < 0.05 for a95% confidence interval. The research follows all ethical standards for studies involvinghuman subjects and was submitted for review and approval at the Research EthicsCommittee. A understanding of memory levels, self-reflection, insight, and quality oflife in adults post- COVID-19 is expected as a result of the present study. Additionally,this study expects that EEGq-NFT will be effective in reducing the theta/beta ratio, aswell as improving attention and working memory in adults with cognitive impairment inpost-COVID-19 syndrome.
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Behavioral: qEEG-neurofeedback
The participants will be submitted to a qEEG-neurofeedback intervention in order to
verifify its feasibility to enhance cognition. The theta/beta ratio reduction protocol at
electrodes Fp1, Fp2, Fz, F3, F4, Cz, C3, C4 will be performed, with 10 sessions of
qEEG-neurofeedback training, 2 sessions for pre and post test, and 1 session for
follow-up after 30 days of intervention. Each session will last approximately 1 hour. The
Psychological Battery of Attention 2 (BPA-2) and Digit Span Test will be employed to
measure attention and working memory levels. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (Moca)
will be used for neurological and cognitive assessment. Participants will receive
feedback based on their theta/beta ratio in the frontal and central cortical areas
(electrodes Fp1, Fp2, Fz, F3, F4, Cz, C3, C4).
Other Name: Experimental Group,Group 1
Behavioral: SHAM qEEG-neurofeedback
The participant will be submitted to an inactive qEEG-neurofeedback that appears to be
the same as a functional procedure or device. Participants will not receive feedback
based on their theta/beta ratio in the frontal and central cortical areas (electrodes
Fp1, Fp2, Fz, F3, F4, Cz, C3, C4).
Other Name: SHAM,Group 2
The inclusion criteria - 1) Be over 18 years old and under 60 years old, 2) Authorize
participation in the study through the informed consent form.
The exclusion criteria - 1) Be under 18 years old and over 60 years old; 2) Discontinue
participation in the study, 3) Use psychoactive substances that affect attention and
memory, 4) Present physical or cognitive repercussions resulting from other diagnoses
prior to or subsequent to COVID-19, 5) Present a history of attention and memory
impairment prior to the diagnosis of COVID-19.
Santos Dumont Institute
Macaíba, RN, Brazil
Investigator: Denis Delisle Rodriguez Rodriguez, Phd
Contact: +55(27)99969-3552
delisle05@gmail.com
Investigator: Jade Carvalho da Silva, master's
JADE DA SILVA, Master's degree
+55(27)99613-0197
jadecarvalhos@gmail.com
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