Session Frequency Matters in Neurofeedback Training of Athletes

Overview

Journal Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback

Publisher Springer

Date 2021 Feb 2

PMID 33528679

Citations 13

Authors

Christophe Domingos

Miguel Peralta

Pedro Prazeres

Wenya Nan

Agostinho Rosa

Jose G Pereira

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Neurofeedback training has been an increasingly used technique and is taking its first steps in sport. Being at an embryonic stage, it is difficult to find consensus regarding the applied methodology to achieve the best results. This study focused on understanding one of the major methodological issues-the training session frequency. The aim of the investigation was to understand if there are differences between performing two sessions or three sessions per week in enhancement of alpha activity and improvement of cognition; and in case there are differences, infer the best protocol. Forty-five athletes were randomly assigned to the three-session-training-per-week group, the two-session-training-per-week group and a control group. The results showed that neurofeedback training with three sessions per week was more effective in increase of alpha amplitude during neurofeedback training than two sessions per week. Furthermore, only the three-session-per-week group showed significant enhancement in N-back and oddball performance after training. The findings suggested more condensed training protocol lead to better outcomes, providing guidance on neurofeedback protocol design in order to optimize training efficacy.

Citing Articles

Neurofeedback Training Protocols in Sports: A Systematic Review of Recent Advances in Performance, Anxiety, and Emotional Regulation.

Tosti B, Corrado S, Mancone S, Di Libero T, Carissimo C, Cerro G Brain Sci. 2024; 14(10).

PMID: 39452048 PMC: 11506327. DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14101036.

Enhancing Working Memory and Reducing Anxiety in University Students: A Neurofeedback Approach.

Diotaiuti P, Valente G, Corrado S, Tosti B, Carissimo C, Di Libero T Brain Sci. 2024; 14(6).

PMID: 38928578 PMC: 11202122. DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14060578.

Alpha neurofeedback training improves visual working memory in healthy individuals.

Zhou W, Nan W, Xiong K, Ku Y NPJ Sci Learn. 2024; 9(1):32.

PMID: 38637595 PMC: 11026515. DOI: 10.1038/s41539-024-00242-w.

Do Miniature Eye Movements Affect Neurofeedback Training Performance? A Combined EEG-Eye Tracking Study.

Kober S, Wood G, Schuster S, Korner C Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2024; 49(2):313-327.

PMID: 38492124 PMC: 11101551. DOI: 10.1007/s10484-024-09625-6.

Feasibility of a novel neurofeedback system: a parallel randomized single-blinded pilot study.

Horvath D, Negyesi J, Racz M, Gyori T, Matics Z, Puskin A Sci Rep. 2023; 13(1):17353.

PMID: 37833489 PMC: 10576027. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44545-1.

References

Babiloni C, Marzano N, Infarinato F, Iacoboni M, Rizza G, Aschieri P . "Neural efficiency" of experts' brain during judgment of actions: a high-resolution EEG study in elite and amateur karate athletes. Behav Brain Res. 2009; 207(2):466-75. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2009.10.034. View

Debener S, Makeig S, Delorme A, Engel A . What is novel in the novelty oddball paradigm? Functional significance of the novelty P3 event-related potential as revealed by independent component analysis. Brain Res Cogn Brain Res. 2005; 22(3):309-21. DOI: 10.1016/j.cogbrainres.2004.09.006. View

Dekker M, van den Berg B, Denissen A, Sitskoorn M, van Boxtel G . Feasibility of eyes open alpha power training for mental enhancement in elite gymnasts. J Sports Sci. 2014; 32(16):1550-60. DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2014.906044. View

Gallicchio G, Cooke A, Ring C . Practice Makes Efficient: Cortical Alpha Oscillations Are Associated With Improved Golf Putting Performance. Sport Exerc Perform Psychol. 2017; 6(1):89-102. PMC: 5506342. DOI: 10.1037/spy0000077. View

Gruzelier J . Differential effects on mood of 12-15 (SMR) and 15-18 (beta1) Hz neurofeedback. Int J Psychophysiol. 2013; 93(1):112-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2012.11.007. View

Gruzelier J, Thompson T, Redding E, Brandt R, Steffert T . Application of alpha/theta neurofeedback and heart rate variability training to young contemporary dancers: state anxiety and creativity. Int J Psychophysiol. 2013; 93(1):105-11. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2013.05.004. View

Guez J, Rogel A, Getter N, Keha E, Cohen T, Amor T . Influence of electroencephalography neurofeedback training on episodic memory: a randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind study. Memory. 2014; 23(5):683-94. DOI: 10.1080/09658211.2014.921713. View

Hsueh J, Chen T, Chen J, Shaw F . Neurofeedback training of EEG alpha rhythm enhances episodic and working memory. Hum Brain Mapp. 2016; 37(7):2662-75. PMC: 6867560. DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23201. View

KIRCHNER W . Age differences in short-term retention of rapidly changing information. J Exp Psychol. 1958; 55(4):352-8. DOI: 10.1037/h0043688. View

10.

Klimesch W . EEG alpha and theta oscillations reflect cognitive and memory performance: a review and analysis. Brain Res Brain Res Rev. 1999; 29(2-3):169-95. DOI: 10.1016/s0165-0173(98)00056-3. View

11.

Klimesch W, Sauseng P, Hanslmayr S . EEG alpha oscillations: the inhibition-timing hypothesis. Brain Res Rev. 2006; 53(1):63-88. DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresrev.2006.06.003. View

12.

Kober S, Schweiger D, Reichert J, Neuper C, Wood G . Upper Alpha Based Neurofeedback Training in Chronic Stroke: Brain Plasticity Processes and Cognitive Effects. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2017; 42(1):69-83. PMC: 5344963. DOI: 10.1007/s10484-017-9353-5. View

13.

Mann C, STERMAN M, Kaiser D . Suppression of EEG rhythmic frequencies during somato-motor and visuo-motor behavior. Int J Psychophysiol. 1996; 23(1-2):1-7. DOI: 10.1016/0167-8760(96)00036-0. View

14.

Maszczyk A, Golas A, Pietraszewski P, Kowalczyk M, Cieszczyk P, Kochanowicz A . Neurofeedback for the enhancement of dynamic balance of judokas. Biol Sport. 2018; 35(1):99-102. PMC: 6135976. DOI: 10.5114/biolsport.2018.71488. View

15.

Milton J, Solodkin A, Hlustik P, Small S . The mind of expert motor performance is cool and focused. Neuroimage. 2007; 35(2):804-13. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.01.003. View

16.

Nan W, Rodrigues J, Ma J, Qu X, Wan F, Mak P . Individual alpha neurofeedback training effect on short term memory. Int J Psychophysiol. 2012; 86(1):83-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2012.07.182. View

17.

Nan W, Wan F, Chang L, Pun S, Vai M, Rosa A . An Exploratory Study of Intensive Neurofeedback Training for Schizophrenia. Behav Neurol. 2017; 2017:6914216. PMC: 5497641. DOI: 10.1155/2017/6914216. View

18.

Nan W, Wan F, Lou C, Vai M, Rosa A . Peripheral visual performance enhancement by neurofeedback training. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2013; 38(4):285-91. DOI: 10.1007/s10484-013-9233-6. View

19.

Pfurtscheller G, Neuper C, Ramoser H . Visually guided motor imagery activates sensorimotor areas in humans. Neurosci Lett. 1999; 269(3):153-6. DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(99)00452-8. View

20.

Raymond J, Sajid I, Parkinson L, Gruzelier J . Biofeedback and dance performance: a preliminary investigation. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2005; 30(1):64-73. DOI: 10.1007/s10484-005-2175-x. View