Alpha biofeedback: fact or artifact?

Abstract

ABSTRACTTwenty‐two volunteer psychiatric inpatients ranging in age from 16 to 58 participated as subjects. Those subjects with abnormal EEC patterns in the form of grand‐mal seizure activity were administered. All subjects were administered the Rod and Frame Test, Embedded Figures Test, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, and the Autonomic Perception Questionnaire. These variables plus a psychotic‐non‐psychotic dichotic were utilized as predictor variables to identify those subjects most able to control production or alpha. It was found that none of the variables possessed predictive value because no significant between session increases in alpha density were found. However, significant within session effects were found between Alpha‐On vs Alpha‐Off and between Eyes‐Open vs Eyes‐Closed instruction conditions. Significant within session increases in alpha density were also observed over the three Alpha‐On periods by the 11 non‐psychotic subjects during their first training session. These results raise serious question as to whether any learning takes place as a function of alpha biofeedback training. Future research should include between session data analysis in order to convincingly demonstrate the validity of alpha biofeedback training.