Transfer of EMG training: another look at the general relaxation issue.

Abstract

ABSTRACTA study was made of the extent to which electromyographic (EMG) response‐decrease training with biofeedback on each of two successive sites would affect the other site in terms of generalization and transfer of training. Thirty‐two subjects were assigned to four groups of equal size. Groups Frontal‐Arm and Arm‐Frontal were first provided with auditory feedback for EMG responses on either the forehead (frontal) or forearm extensor areas in an initial set of training sessions and on the alternate area in a second set of training sessions. Control groups Relax‐Arm and Relax‐Frontal were provided with instructions designed to induce “motivated relaxation” on one of the two sites in initial training followed by biofeedback training on the alternate site in subsequent training. The EMG training, but not the instructions, resulted in reduced EMG potentials in both the forearm and frontal areas. However, training on one site did not appear to facilitate more rapid acquisition of reduced potentials (transfer of training) during subsequent biofeedback on the alternate site. There was also no evidence for generalized training effects in the form of reduced potentials on other sites, skin temperatures, or self‐reports at the time of training on one site.