Methods. This study utilized an 8-week repeated-measures experimental design to investigate the effects of electroencephalogram (EEG) biofeedback on the willful use of hypnagogia for increasing creativity and well-being. The sample size of 62 (30 experimental subjects and 32 controls) was comprised of both sexes with a mean age of 45. The EEG parameters of hypnagogia were broadly defined as the presence and pre-dominance of alpha and theta brain wave activity. Creativity was defined by the three most readily agreed upon divergent thinking abilities: (a) fluency (the ability to generate numerous ideas), (b) flexibility (the ability to see a given problem from multiple perspectives), and (c) originality (the ability to come up with new and unique ideas). Results. Hypnagogia was analyzed through multiple univariate analyses of variance. The EEG data showed that both experimental and control participants were able to achieve light to deep hypnagogic states in every training session. T-tests results on fluency and originality scores from the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking and the Christensen-Guilford Associational Fluency Test showed no significant changes in pre- and post-tests for either group. However, flexibility in thinking, as measured by the Alternate Uses Test was significantly increased (p < .001) for all participants. Well-being, as measured by the Friedman Well-Being Scale, also significantly increased for all participants (p = .002). Discussion. The data suggest that willful use of hynagogia may indeed increase creativity and well-being. Participants reported increased personal creativity, stress reduction, heightened self-awareness, emotional equanimity, and improved work performance.
Budzynski, T., Budzynski, H. K., &l Tang, H-Y. (2007). Brain brightening: restoring the aging mind. Chapter in J. R. Evans (Ed.), Handbook of Neurofeedback. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Medical Press, pp. 231-265.
Budzynski, T. H. (1996). Brain brightening: Can neurofeedback improve cognitive process? Biofeedback, 24(2), 14-17. (abstract to follow)
Cannon R, Lubar J, Congedo M, Thornton K, Towler K, Hutchens T. (2007). The effects of neurofeedback training in the cognitive division of the anterior cingulate gyrus. Int J Neurosci;117(3):337-57. This study examines the
efficacy of neurofeedback training in the cognitive division of the anterior cingulate gyrus and describes its relationship with cortical regions known to be involved in executive functions. This study was conducted with eight non-clinical students, four male and four female, with a mean age of twenty-two. Learning occurred in the ACcd at significant levels over sessions and in the anterior regions that receive projections from the AC. There appears to be a multidimensional executive circuit that increases in the same frequency in apparent synchrony with the AC and it may be possible to train this sub-cortical region using LNFB.
Dekker, MK., Van den Berg, BR., Denissen, AJ., Sitskoom, MM. & Van Boxtel, GJ. (2014). Feasibility of eyes open alpha power training for mental enhancement in elite gymnasts. J Sports Sci: Aug32(16). 1550-1560. Abstract This
study focuses on a novel, easy to use and instruction-less method for mental training in athletes. Previous findings suggest that particular mental capacities are needed for achieving peak performance; including attentional control, focus, relaxation and positive affect. Electroencephalography (EEG) alpha brain activity has been associated with neural inhibition during processes of selective attention, for improving efficiency in information processing. Here we hypothesised that eyes open alpha power training by music teaches athletes to (1) learn to self-regulate their brain activity, and (2) learn to increase their baseline alpha power, herewith improving mental capacities such as focusing the allocation of attention. The study was double-blind and placebo-controlled. Twelve elite gymnasts were either given eyes open alpha power training or random beta power training (controls). Results indicate small improvements in sleep quality, mental and physical shape. In our first attempt at getting a grip on mental capacities in athletes, we think this novel training method can be promising. Because gymnastics is one of the most mentally demanding sports, we value even small benefits for the athlete and consider them indicative for future research.
Neurofeedback Bibliography for Cognitive, Sports and Corporate Optimal and Peak Performance CRKerson for Mind Builders | September 2014
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Egner, T., & Gruzelier, J. H. (2004). EEG biofeedback of low beta band components: Frequency-specific effects on variables of attention and event-related brain potentials. Clinical Neurophysiology, 115, 131-139. Objective: To test
a common assumption underlying the clinical use of electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback training (neurofeedback), that the modulation of discreet frequency bands is associated with frequency-specific effects. Specifically, the proposal was assessed that enhancement of the low beta components sensorimotor rhythm (SMR: 1215 Hz) and beta1 (1518 Hz) affect different aspects of attentional processing. Methods: Subjects (n=25) were randomly allocated to training with either an SMR or beta1 protocol, or to a non-neurofeedback control group. Subjects were assessed prior and subsequent to the training process on two tests of sustained attention. The neurofeedback participants were also assessed on target P300 event-related potential (ERP) amplitudes in a traditional auditory oddball paradigm. Results: Protocol-specific effects were obtained in that SMR training was associated with increased perceptual sensitivity d prime (d), and reduced omission errors and reaction time variability. Beta1 training was associated with faster reaction times and increased target P300 amplitudes, whereas no changes were evident in the control group. Conclusions: Neurofeedback training of SMR and beta1 band components led to significant and protocol-specific effects in healthy subjects. The data can be interpreted as indicating a general attention-enhancing effect of SMR training, and an arousal-enhancing effect of beta1 training.
Egner, T., & Gruzelier, J. H. (2004). The temporal dynamics of electroencephalographic responses to alpha/theta neurofeedback training in healthy subjects. Journal of Neurotherapy, 8(1), 43-57. Background. It has been shown
recently that accurate feedback of alpha and theta electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, as employed in the commonly used “alpha/theta protocol,” induced linear increments in within-session theta-over-alpha ratios in comparison to non-contingent feedback in a healthy sample. These data verify that alpha/theta feedback can facilitate within-session operant control over the EEG signature targeted by the training protocol. However, it is neither known whether any between-session theta/alpha ratio changes do reliably occur, nor what kind of temporal dynamics between the alpha and theta band amplitudes characterize within-session and/or between-session theta/alpha ratio changes. Method. In order to address these issues, analyses of an extensive data set (n = 48) of alpha/theta training in healthy volunteers were carried out. Specifically, alpha, theta, and theta/alpha ratio EEG dynamics were contrasted between groups of subjects that engaged in 10 sessions of training at PZ (n = 28), five sessions of training at PZ (n = 10), and 10 sessions at FZ (n = 10). Results. For alpha/theta training at PZ, significant within-session increments in theta/alpha ratios were mediated by slightly less pronounced decrements in theta than in alpha activity during the sessions. The traditional alpha/theta protocol at PZ was nevertheless associated with significant theta activity increments across the training process. For training at FZ, no significant within- or between-session changes in theta, alpha, or theta/alpha ratio values were found, but a progressively higher rate of within-session theta/alpha ratio modulation was evident across sessions. Furthermore, in contrast to the PZ groups, any changes in theta/alpha ratio at FZ were mediated by increases in theta relative to alpha amplitudes. Conclusions. These data elucidate the dynamics underlying the within-session theta/alpha ratio increments associated with posterior alpha/theta training, and document an increase in theta activity across 10 sessions of training, offering further evidence for a neurophysiological impact of this training protocol. In addition, the contrasting EEG characteristics associated with frontal versus posterior alpha/theta training underline the heterogeneous nature of these frequency components across varying scalp sites.
Egner, T. & Gruzelier, JH. (2003). Ecological validity of neurofeedback: modulation of slow wave EEG enhances musical performance. NeuroReport, 14(9) 1221-1224. Biofeedback-assisted modulation of electrocortical activity
has been established to have intrinsic clinical benefits and has been shown to improve cognitive performance in healthy humans. In order to further investigate the pedagogic relevance of electroencephalograph (EEG) biofeedback (neurofeedback) for enhancing normal function, a series of investigations assessed the training's impact on an ecologically valid real-life behavioural performance measure: music performance under stressful conditions in conservatoire students. In a pilot study, single-blind expert ratings documented improvements in musical
Neurofeedback Bibliography for Cognitive, Sports and Corporate Optimal and Peak Performance CRKerson for Mind Builders | September 2014