Attention-related power and functional connectivity modulation associated with long-term alpha neurofeedback training

•20 sessions of NFT with real-time frontal lobe alpha band power as feedback was conducted on 50 healthy subjects (25 NFT and 25 control group) to improve their attention levels.•The response time of the NFT group decreased significantly after attending the NFT sessions.•A significant increase in alpha and theta band power in the NFT group was recorded after attending the NFT sessions.•A significant increase in event-related Functional Connectivity calculated by intersite phase clustering (ISPC) values within the NFT group in the theta and alpha bands was recorded. Electroencephalography (EEG) based Neurofeedback training (NFT) is a non-invasive, brain-modulation technique that can improve the subject’s attention. In this research, the effectiveness of long-term NFT on the subject’s attention is explored. Real-time frontal lobe alpha band (8–13 Hz) power was used as feedback. The subjects were divided into the NFT group (n = 25) which received training and the control group (n = 25) which did not. All the subjects participated in the attention network task (ANT) at three stages i.e., before, mid, and at the end of NFT sessions. The EEG and behavioral data (Response time (RT) of the ANT task) were recorded for all subjects. The EEG data were pre-processed using a manual artifact removal procedure to avoid event-related information loss. Alpha band modulation can affect other bands such as theta (4–8 Hz) and beta (13–30 Hz) hence event-related functional connectivity (FC) and band power (BP) were analyzed in these bands as well. In event-related analysis, a significant increase (ANOVA & T-Test: P