Generalization of skills between operant control and discrimination of EEG alpha

• Published in: Consciousness and cognition Vol. 45; pp. 226 - 234
• Main Authors: Frederick, Jon A., Heim, Andrew S., Dunn, Kelli N., Powers, Cynthia D., Klein, Casey J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2016; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Alpha; Alpha Rhythm - physiology; Anatomy & physiology; Awareness; Biofeedback; Biofeedback, Psychology - methods; Cognition & reasoning; Conditioning, Operant - physiology; Discrimination; EEG; Electroencephalography; Female; Generalization (Psychology) - physiology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neurofeedback; Psychophysiology; Self-Control; Sensory motor skills; Young Adult; Discrimination; EEG; Sensory motor skills; Alpha; Biofeedback; Psychophysiology; Neurofeedback
• ISSN: 1053-8100; 1090-2376
• DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2016.09.009

•Training to control generalized to an ability to discriminate EEG alpha.•Training to discriminate did not generalize to an ability to control alpha.•Dividing session time equally did not facilitate learning of either task. While biofeedback is often said to increase self-control of physiological states by increasing awareness of their subjective correlates, relatively few studies have analyzed the relationship between control (standard biofeedback) and awareness (a discrimination paradigm). We hypothesized that the two skills would generalize and facilitate each other for 8–12Hz EEG amplitude (alpha). Participants were given 7 sessions of training to either control or discriminate Pz alpha followed by 3 sessions of the other paradigm. Another group was given 7 sessions with time divided equally between the two types of training. The control-training first group showed significant generalization of skills to the discrimination task. However, the reverse was not true, and the combined task group did no better in either task than the other two groups. These results provide ambivalent support for the role of awareness in biofeedback, and suggest possible improvements in the discrimination paradigm.