Le 34e Congrès annuel de la SQRP

contre, un effet de pratique a été observé dans le groupe contrôle, se manifestant par une diminution
graduelle du clignement attentionnel à travers les séances. Des études subséquentes pour dissocier
l’effet de concurrence à long-terme de l’effet de pratique seront discutées.
A10. Changes in attention-related white matter tracts induced by neurofeedback training
GHAZIRI, Jimmy; TUCHOLKA, Alan; LARUE, Vanessa; BLANCHETTE-SYLVESTRE, Myriam; REYBURN,
Gabrielle; BEAUREGARD, Mario
Université de Montréal
We recently demonstrated that increasing Beta1 band through neurofeedback training (NFT) can
enhance activity in brain regions involved in various attentional processes.1,2 This study sought to
investigate whether a NFT protocol designed to improve sustained attention might induce changes in
white matter tracts connecting frontoparietal networks.3,4 Thirty university students (M: 22.2; SD: 2.4)
with no history of neurological or psychiatric disorders were recruited. Participants were randomly
assigned to an experimental group (EXP, NFT; n=12, M: 22.4; SD: 1.6), a sham group (SHAM, to control
for a possible placebo effect; n=12, 9 M: 22.0; SD: 3.1), or a control group (CON, to control for the
passage of time; n=6, 3 M: 20.7; SD: 1.0). NFT was conducted over a period of 13.5 weeks for a total of
40 sessions. Participants in the EXP group were trained to enhance the amplitude of their beta 1 waves
in the right hemisphere. Electrodes were placed at F4 and P4. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data
were acquired one week before (Time 1) and one week after (Time 2) NFT. A diffusion tensor model was
fitted to diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data to produce whole brain maps of fractional anisotropy (FA)
that were compared between the two time points using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS).5 In the EXP
group, at Time 2 relative to Time 1, significant increases in FA were measured in the superior
longitudinal fasciculus (left hemisphere [LH], P < 0.0001), inferior longitudinal fasciculus ([LH], P < 0.005),
anterior limb of the internal capsule (LH], P < 0.0005), anterior corona radiata (right hemisphere [RH], P
< 0.005), cingulum ([RH] and [LH], P < 0.0001), and corpus callosum (genu: P < 0.005; body: P < 0.001;
splenium: P < 0.0005). No FA change was noted for members of the SHAM and CON groups. These
findings suggest that NFT can produce changes in white matter tracts underlying attention-related brain
regions.
A11. The Cognitive Benefits of Pre-exposure and Letter Priming
CARLIN, Sean; STANDING, Leo; COOPER, Philip
Bishop's University
Previous research suggests that motivational processes outside an individuals’ conscious awareness can
be primed to influence academic performance. The current research will explore the association
between a pre-exposure information, evaluative prime letters (A and F) and cognitive performance.
Moreover, the current research attempts to provide a conceptual replication of Ciani and Sheldon
(2010)’s study by investigating whether exposure to the letter A before a task improves performance on
a task of verbal intelligence, and whether exposure to the letter F impairs performance (both relative to
J, as a neutral letter). Furthermore, it examines whether letter priming is strengthened or weakened by
the effects of a pre-exposure dialogue. Data from 67 Bishop’s University psychology students revealed
that students scored higher on an analogy test when exposed to the letter A (M = 10.4615, SD =
2.81707) compared to the letter F (M = 10.4167, SD = 3.60450) in the positive pre-exposure condition. A
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