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EEG signature and phenomenology of alpha/theta neurofeedback training versus mock feedback.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Egner, T; Strawson, E; Gruzelier, JH
Published in: Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback
December 2002

Alpha/theta (a/t) neurofeedback training has in the past successfully been used as a complementary therapeutic relaxation technique in the treatment of alcoholism. In spite of positive clinical outcomes, doubts have been cast on the protocol's specificity when compared to alternative relaxation regimes. This study investigated the basic tenet underlying the a/t training rationale, that accurate a/t feedback representation facilitates the generation of these frequency components. Two groups of healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to either (a) real contingent a/t feedback training or (b) a noncontingent mock feedback control condition. The groups were compared on measures of theta/alpha (t/a) ratios within and across training sessions, as well as activational self-report scales after each session. The contingent a/t feedback group displayed significant within-session t/a ratio increments not evident in the mock control group, as well as higher overall t/a ratios in some but not all of the training sessions. No differences were found between the groups in terms of subjective activational phenomenology, in that both groups reported significantly lower levels of activation after training sessions. The data demonstrate that irrespective of considerations of clinical relevance, accurate a/t neurofeedback effectively facilitates production of higher within-session t/a ratios than do noncontingent feedback relaxation.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback

DOI

EISSN

1573-3270

ISSN

1090-0586

Publication Date

December 2002

Volume

27

Issue

4

Start / End Page

261 / 270

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Relaxation Therapy
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Electroencephalography
  • Biofeedback, Psychology
  • Adult
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
 

Citation

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Egner, T., Strawson, E., & Gruzelier, J. H. (2002). EEG signature and phenomenology of alpha/theta neurofeedback training versus mock feedback. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 27(4), 261–270. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1021063416558
Egner, Tobias, Emilie Strawson, and John H. Gruzelier. “EEG signature and phenomenology of alpha/theta neurofeedback training versus mock feedback.Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback 27, no. 4 (December 2002): 261–70. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1021063416558.
Egner T, Strawson E, Gruzelier JH. EEG signature and phenomenology of alpha/theta neurofeedback training versus mock feedback. Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback. 2002 Dec;27(4):261–70.
Egner, Tobias, et al. “EEG signature and phenomenology of alpha/theta neurofeedback training versus mock feedback.Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, vol. 27, no. 4, Dec. 2002, pp. 261–70. Epmc, doi:10.1023/a:1021063416558.
Egner T, Strawson E, Gruzelier JH. EEG signature and phenomenology of alpha/theta neurofeedback training versus mock feedback. Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback. 2002 Dec;27(4):261–270.
Journal cover image

Published In

Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback

DOI

EISSN

1573-3270

ISSN

1090-0586

Publication Date

December 2002

Volume

27

Issue

4

Start / End Page

261 / 270

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Relaxation Therapy
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Electroencephalography
  • Biofeedback, Psychology
  • Adult
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology