The Neurofeedback Software eBioo ^® was designed and published by the company holder of Soft-dynamics.de since 2007. In particular Neurofeedback Software was created to have the following properties:

(See larger picture)

Training Functions: The following standard training functions are available in eBioo:

Amplitude, Coherence, Power, relative Amplitude, Band Amplitude, Asymmetry, Peak Frequency, Phase Synchrony, relative Asymmetry, Phase Difference, and more ...

Training Designs can be configured using these standard training functions.

Although it is quite easy to configure a training design in eBioo using these standard training functions, there are some Built-In training designs provided, such as:

- C3/C4 Beta/SMR - Training
- F3/F4 Delta/HiBeta inhibit
- Theta/Beta - Ratio inhibit
- Delta inhibit

- O1/O2 Alpha-Amplitude Training
- F3/F4 Alpha-Asymmetry inhibit
- Pz Alpha/Theta - Training
- Alpha-Synchrony Training

All these training designs can be modified before or while using them and stored for frequently later usage.

Several different standard training functions can be combined and used simultaneously in one training design ! (like in a Z-Score-Training mode), although different training functions have a different range or scope. The eBioo software is taking care of that.
All standard training functions can be displayed as frequency spectrum ! (e.g. Coherence on a frequency axis in high resolution) Hot-Spots can be detected easily and taken as target training this way.

In many Neurofeedback software products that are available on the market, training concepts have to be designed on a design form or mathematical functions have to be entered into a "Wizard". The effort to figure out a concept, design and test a new client specific design exceeds often one working hour. Furthermore these designs are static and can hardly be changed during the training session.

To configure a comparable training design in eBioo requires often not more than 2 or 3 minutes of time.

To configure a training design, in eBioo simply the following has to be done: Selection of the data channels, selection of training functions and selection of the corresponding frequency ranges. Several different trainings functions and different frequency ranges can of cause be combined in the same training design and session and can be optimized during the ongoing training session. The high resolution spectrum screen gives helpful hints to optimize the parameters.


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  See also: or eBioo User Manual or eBioo Data Sheet

Image 1.0 - See larger image

The software offers 3 basic operating modes:

Screen layout:
In picture 1.0 the 2-channel EEG raw signal is visible in the upper left blue sub window, and in the lower left sub window the amplitudes are visible as frequency spectrum. The sub window on the right side of the form are used to enter the client data and for steering and monitoring purposes of the training session. The sub window dimensions can be modified using a slider. The upper window row contains the main menu and buttons for training Start, Stop and Pause. Frequently used additional functions like showing an additional video screen window can be activated using a button. The light blue area in the frequency spectrum show the current amplitude, where as the mid blue area with the tiny yellow tiles are showing the average amplitude together with the A.25-A.75 amplitudes deviation range. (See also chapter: Statistics evaluation).

The Training Design can be defined in folder 'Training'.
User Options can be entered in a separate form.

The amplitude as maximal deflection of an oscillation, is depicted in micro Volt (uV) and is evaluated in eBioo as 'spectral density'. The amplitude range can be scaled and the frequency range can be defined by the user as well.

The frequency uncertainty (selectivity) of a filter is determined by the number of waves, that are used to evaluate the amplitudes. The more waves for the amplitude calculation are used, the greater the frequency selectivity is - but necessarily also the average temporal delay that has to be considered until the feedback signal can appear. (Example: 10 Waves of a 10 Hz oscillation have a duration of 1.0 second; the average delay to be considered then is 0.5 seconds) In neurofeedback programs, the frequency selectivity is determined indirectly choosing the filter order. In eBioo the number of waves can be selected directly. (See folder 'Steering', Panel: FT-Resolution)

The frequency range (max. 0.5 to 64 Hz) and the amplitude range in the spectrum screen is user definable.
Currently selected Bands : Delta, Theta1, Theta2, Alpha, SMR, Beta; ( red, blue, white, green, yellow, light-blue )

Yellow line: Statistical median Amplitude

The relative amplitude is evaluated, comparing the amplitude of a particular frequency with the current average amplitude of the frequency range that goes from from Theta up to Beta. ( rel.A := A/[A] ) The relative amplitude thus has in general a mean value of 1.0 and a range of about 0.5 up to about 2.5 .

Temporal amplitude changes (e.g. turbulences) thus do not have that effect using training method 'relative amplitude', as if training method amplitude is used alone or instead. Compare: training method 'Amplitude promote' rewards turbulences as well. With training method 'relative Amplitude' more or less the structure of an amplitude distribution is rewarded rather than an amplitude alone. In eBioo Training method 'relative Amplitude' can be used in combination with training method 'Amplitude'.

Yellow line: Statistical median Value

Mid blue Band: 50% probability range of the amplitudes (see also chapter: Statistical Evaluation )

The coherence is provided in eBioo frequency dependent in the spectrum screen with value range from 0.0 to 1.00 (commonly expressed as 0 - 100%) and is selectable as training method as well.

In eBioo, the frequency range for coherence training is not limited to a defined frequency band but can be adjusted in the training screen with an accuracy of 0.5 Hz and modified even while training. Simultaneously the coherence can be observed in the spectrum screen.

The coherence is a measure for the phase stability of two signals of a certain frequency and is - besides the amplitude training - an important and in practice commonly used training function. The coherence is in neuro diagnostics a measure for the interconnectivity, i.e. a measure how strong the signals of two electrode placements are connected.

Yellow line: Statistical median Value

The phase difference is given and depicted in degree and has in eBioo a range from -180 to +180 degrees. The current phase difference between channel 1 and 2 is depicted as dotted line in real time. That way phase shifts are visible.

In eBioo, values of function 'phase difference' are not depicted as bars. Only the bar peaks are displayed. That is, to assure that in case of an increase of a value beyond 180 degrees, there is no visible bar that swaps from positive to negative direction, what would optically be crucial in readability. Values between 180 and 360 degree are displayed in the ranger of -180 up to 0 degrees. That way a phase difference of 181 degree is identical to a phase difference of -179 degree ( -179 = 181 - 360 degree ).

The mid-blue Band of the 50% probability range is measured in the example (see: preview image on the left) in the entire frequency range (except Delta) between +35 and -20 degrees. The dotted line shows a momentary phase shift.

To configure a training design there are two rows of 8 Filters for each row. The frequency interval, the training direction (promote or inhibit) and the evaluation function (amplitude, relative amplitude, asymmetry etc....) can be chosen for each Filter individually. A filter is assigned to one or more channels. The training parameters can be modified 'on-the-Fly' during training session (even if data processing is running) to evaluate the reward feedback level and feedback.

For the feedback evaluation there are (see folder: 'Training') 2 rows of 8 configurable filter (frequency windows). With these filters the requested frequency range, training direction (e.g. 'promote', 'inhibit' or 'neutral' = inactive ) and output function (e.g. amplitude) can be selected. In the represented example the filter 1.4 and 2.1 are switched active (here for: Alpha promote and LoTheta inhibit). The score value of each row is evaluated separately and can be linked with a different feedback signal as well as to a common feedback signal.

The current amplitude values are represented in the amplitude display screen as light blue bars. The shadowed area in mid blue color represents the amplitude fluctuation of the preceding time interval of (in this example) 52 seconds as A.25 and/or A.75-Amplitude value. The A.75-Amplitude was defined as the amplitude below those 75% of all amplitude values of the last time interval of (here) 52 seconds have been observed. For this statistics evaluation, the amplitude is checked 20 times a second. Thus it is possible to receive and display quantitative statements simultaneously about amplitude average values and their deviation range as well as the amplitude distribution curve with a frequency resolution of 0.5 Hz.
The A.25-Amplitude was accordingly defined as the amplitude below those in the preceding time interval of 52 seconds, 25% of all amplitude values of the particular frequency bar (and 75% above) have been observed. The length of the time interval for this statistics evaluation, is selectable by user option. By this statistics evaluation of the signal it is obvious in the above example that in the Delta and LoTheta frequency range of this test person at electrode site Fz the amplitude in average is substantially higher than at point Cz, which is regarded to be a local asymmetry of the amplitude signals.