Contingentvs. noncontingent EMG feedback and hand temperature in relation to anxiety and locus of control

Abstract

This study was designed to measure the effects of contingent and noncontingent EMG feedback on hand temperature, anxiety, and locus of control. Two groups of six subjects each were selected on the basis of high test-anxiety scores. The groups participated in a reverse design study in which Group 1 received five sessions of contingent EMG ffedback followed by five sessions of noncontingent feedback. Group 2 received noncontingent feedback followed by contingent feedback. Results indicate a significant order of treatment effect. Subjects who received contingent feedback first produced lower EMG readings, lower test-anxiety scores, and higher hand temperatures during noncontingent feedback sessions. Receiving noncontingent feedback first may actually have interfered with utilizing contingent feedback.

Electromyograph biofeedback as a relaxation technique: A critical appraisal and reassessment.

“…DeGood and Chisholm cautioned against an oversimplified approach to generalized increased and decreased arousal effects, however, because fingertip vasoconstriction accompanied both increases and decreases in frontalis EMG activity. This finding that changes in frontalis EMG and vasomotor responses do not covary to reflect a general relaxation response has been replicated several times (Bild & Adams, 1980;Carlson, 1977;Delman & Johnson, 1976;Kappes & Michaud, 1978;Sturgis, Tollison, & Adams, 1978) and may represent some kind of compensatory mechanism (DeGood & Chisholm, 1977).…”

“…The use of a noncontingent feedback control condition, however, may establish a bias against the control group (see Crider, Schwartz, & Shnidman, 1969;Katkin & Murray, 1968) and may also lead to feelings of frustration for the subjects (Budzynski & Stoyva, 1969). In addition, subjects can frequently detect that the feedback is not genuine (Kappes & Michaud, 1978), especially when the reponses required to test the feedback (e.g., tensing the forehead or frowning) are readily available to subjects. For these reasons, a no-feedback control condition is preferable.…”

“…With respect to locus of control, it is of additional interest to note that several studies report a movement toward a more internal locus of control following EMG biofeedback (Cox et al, 1975;Kappes & Michaud, 1978;Stern & Berrenberg, 1977), especially for external subjects (Carlson, 1977;Carlson & Feld, 1978). This finding has two important implications.…”

Psychophysiology and Perceived Locus of Control: Critical Review, Theoretical Speculation, and Research Directions

“…Although a few studies either did not include baselines as part of the basic methodology or did not report them (e.g., Harrell, 1980;Hurley, 1980;Kappes & Michaud, 1978;Vogt, 1975;Wagner, Bourgeois, Levenson, & Denton, 1974), some form of baseline assessment was reported in most studies. Although a few studies either did not include baselines as part of the basic methodology or did not report them (e.g., Harrell, 1980;Hurley, 1980;Kappes & Michaud, 1978;Vogt, 1975;Wagner, Bourgeois, Levenson, & Denton, 1974), some form of baseline assessment was reported in most studies.…”