The effect of neurofeedback and aerobic exercises on depression symptoms and cognitive functions in male students

This study aimed to explain the effect of a course of neurofeedback and aerobic exercises on depressive and cognitive symptoms. In this study, 60 male students symptoms of depression were selected as available samples. The participants were randomly divided into four training groups.The neurofeedback and exercise groups each performed the respective exercises for eight weeks, three sessions per week, and each session for one hour .The combined group performed 30 minutes of neurofeedback training and 30 minutes of aerobic training at the same time with the same number of sessions in each session, while the control group did not perform any specific training. Twenty-four hours before and after the exercise protocol, depression questionnaires (Beck and Hamilton) and the attention networks test (ANT) were taken from the participants. The results showed that a course of neurofeedback,neurofeedback-aerobic exercises, and aerobic exercises reduced depression symptoms in the Beck and Hamilton index and significantly increased the efficiency of the attention-warning, control-executive, and orientation networks. Aerobic exercises can increase blood supply to the brain, which is an effective factor in reducing depression symptoms. This issue helps to improve morale. Also, exercising will divert the patient's attention from worries and other uncomfortable issues to other points. The combined neurofeedback-aerobic condition caused further improvement in cognitive performance in attention networks, which is one of the effective factors in reducing depression. Considering the improvement of depression symptoms and attention networks, it seems that the temporal cortex is one of the areas involved in attention networks and depression reducing.