1. Objective

Our goal is to develop a wearable wireless non-invasive NIRS device for checking prefrontal activation and developing and effective neurofeedback program at out-patient clinic settings, thus providing a treatment alternative in TS patients

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2. Method

We recruited 6-15 years old Tourette syndrome subjects excluding those with intelligent quotient <70, developmental disabilities or other neurological diseases like epilepsy. After the Tourette severity evaluation and neuropsychiatric tests, they received the NIRS examination with the Posner paradigm and then 8-week NIRS-based neurofeedback training. Further Tourette severity evaluation and the NIRS examination (Posner paradigm for attention) would be done at 3-month interval after the neurofeedback training.

3. Results

7 TS children (persistent tics with Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) score >30) were recruited for neurofeedback training. During the neurofeedback training, their tics disappeared with increased oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) level using the NIRS examination with our wireless wearable headgear. Besides, most parents reported their children’s decreased tics frequency and severity in daily activity under and after the neurofeedback training.

4. Conclusion

In our study, we used real-time oxy-Hb monitor to check for prefrontal activation and thus performed neurofeedback training with our protocol. Besides, we successfully used the light wireless wearable device developed by our laboratory for this neurofeedback training and developed neurofeedback protocol at out-patient clinic setting. This inspired us to further the use or development of neurofeedback training with game-based protocols for attention training in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder with this NIRS device.