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Alpha Enhancement: Effectiveness of Two Feedback Contingencies Relative to a Resting Baseline
Author(s) -
Kuhlman William N.,
Klieger Douglas M.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8986.1975.tb00023.x
Subject(s) - psychology , alpha (finance) , baseline (sea) , alpha rhythm , audiology , negative feedback , electroencephalography , developmental psychology , neuroscience , medicine , physics , construct validity , oceanography , geology , psychometrics , quantum mechanics , voltage
To investigate the effectiveness of informational feedback in the enhancement of the occipital alpha rhythm, 29 subjects were given one session of feedback in which either the presence of a tone signalled alpha (Loop 1) or the absence of tone signalled alpha (Loop 2), while 11 controls received no feedback. Alpha obtained during these conditions was compared to baseline* established from maximum eyes closed resting alpha densities obtained in an earlier session. The Loop I group increased alpha across feedback trials but did not exceed baseline, while Loop 2 subjects exceeded baseline but showed little increase across feedback trials. Controls showed no significant change in alpha. Enhancement across trials was associated with individual differences in baseline alpha, with only those subjects in (he mid‐range of the distribution showing increases. These results do not verify claims of large magnitude changes in alpha density with feedback training, but do suggest that methods of feedback presentation other than the customary Loop I contingency may be more effective in facilitating short term increases in alpha above resting baseline.