Document Detail


A novel self-guided approach to alpha activity training.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22119661     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Fifty healthy participants took part in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in which they were either given auditory alpha activity (8-12Hz) training (N=18), random beta training (N=12), or no training at all (N=20). A novel wireless electrode system was used for training without instructions, involving water-based electrodes mounted in an audio headset. Training was applied approximately at central electrodes. Post-training measurement using a conventional full-cap EEG system revealed a 10% increase in alpha activity at posterior sites compared to pre-training levels, when using the conventional index of alpha activity and a non-linear regression fit intended to model individual alpha frequency. This statistically significant increase was present only in the group that received the alpha training, and remained evident at a 3month follow-up session, especially under eyes open conditions where an additional 10% increase was found. In an exit interview, approximately twice as many participants in the alpha training group (53%) mentioned that the training was relaxing, compared to those in either the beta (20%) or no training (21%) control groups. Behavioural measures of stress and relaxation were indicative of effects of alpha activity training but failed to reach statistical significance. These results are discussed in terms of a lack of statistical power. Overall, results suggest that self-guided alpha activity training using this novel system is feasible and represents a step forward in the ease of instrumental conditioning of brain rhythms.
Authors:
Geert J M van Boxtel; Ad Denissen; Mark Jäger; David Vernon; Marian K J Dekker; Vojkan Mihajlovic; Margriet M Sitskoorn
Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2011-11-24
Journal Detail:
Title:  International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1872-7697     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2011 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-11-28     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8406214     Medline TA:  Int J Psychophysiol     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands; Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
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