Event-related Potentials as Biomarkers for Clinical Practice, Peak Performance Training and Research

with Estate M. Sokhadze, Ph.D., BCN, SC USA

Event-related potentials (ERP) are changes in the waveform of the EEG that are triggered by sensory, motor or cognitive processes. Thus ERPs open a window into basic functions of the human mind. The processing of stimuli takes only a few milliseconds, yet those measurements provide crucial diagnostic criteria that are often even more informative than a quantitative EEG.

ERP technique represents an important tool for brain research in psychiatry, as many psychiatric diseases correlate with certain altered patterns of ERPs. Such ERP alterations can serve as valid biomarkers for functional diagnostic or for better understanding of the cognitive functions which are disturbed in psychiatric and neurologic disorders.

IFEN is proud to offer you the first workshop on ERP in Europe with the great Estate (Tato) M. Sokhadze, Ph.D., BCN Research Professor of Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina School of Medicine (Greenville Campus, Greenville, SC, USA).

The workshop focuses on clinical applications and research of ERPs and their specifics. We have the necessary equipment for all participants on site. You do not need to bring your own equipment! This workshop is neutral of platform.

We offer the unique opportunity to broadcast the seminar via stream. Thus you can easily participate from home, or from any place without travel and hotel costs. The only thing you need is an internet access. Please contact us if you want to participate via streaming!

Who can participate: Anyone interested in improving and expanding their neurofeedback-skills (physicians, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, occupational therapists, researchers, coaches etc)

Workshop Language: The course will be held in English.

Instructor ERP: Estate (Tato) M. Sokhadze

Never before has it been so easy to translate the latest findings of neuroscience into one's own practice!

Curriculum

Day 1

• Methods of EEG recording and montage
• Artifact correction using different tools (e.g., ICA, EOG, EMG artifacts)
• Distinguishing pathological EEG patterns by means of visual inspection and automated tools
• ERP: Recording of evoked potentials, stages of pre-processing of EEG (filtering, segmentation, averaging, baseline correction, rereferencing)
• Nomenclature and labeling of ERP components (P50, N100, N200, P300, N400)
• Exogenous (early) and endogenous (late)  ERP components
• Difference waves (e.g., Mismatch Negativity, MMN)
• Perceptual, cognitive & emotional processes instigated using ERP
• Response locked ERP (Error-related Negativity and Positivity, ERN/Pe)
• Slow Cortical Potentials (CNV, Bereitschaftspotential, LRP)

Day 2

• Most popular ERP tasks (oddball, Go-NoGo, CPT, Stroop, flanker, cue reactivity, etc.) 
• Types of ERP tasks (attention, inhibition, interference, emotional bias, facial expression, etc.) and inferences using ERP components
• Relevant Tasks/Stimulus presentation - preparation with CAPITO
• Specifics of  stimulus modality (auditory, visual, audio-visual, pictorial, verbal, etc.)
• Most important methodological issues in ERP components amplitude and latency scoring and statistical analysis
• ERP dipole source localization methods (BESA, ASA, CURRY)
• Association of ERP components with functioning of brain systems, functional significance of specific ERP components
• Supporting diagnosis of brain disorders with ERP biomarkers
• ERP characteristics typical for ADHD, autism, PTSD, schizophrenia, substance use disorder,  mood disorders,  Parkinson, etc.
• ERP in forensic studies (lie detectors) 
• Normative database for ERP (e.g., HBI) 

Day 3

• Introduction to methods of neurotherapy & neurofeedback protocols (Theta/beta ratio training, SMR Training, Alpha-theta training, Z-Score training, QEEG-guided neurofeedback, SCP training)
• Application of ERP biomarkers as neurofeedback and neuromodulation (e.g., rTMS, tDCS) intervention outcomes
• Generating illustrations (charts, 2D,3D maps), interpreting ERP results
• ERP studies publication preparation guidelines 
• ERP and evoked and induced EEG oscillations
• Review of most popular ERP recording equipment and software
• Review and recommendation of literature and classical references relevant to ERP analysis and interpretation in clinical practice and cognitive neuroscience research

For further reading

If you want to know more, take a look at the ScienceDirect article about different kinds of ERP studies.