Performance Enhancement Training Effects on Attention

The Effects of Performance Enhancement Training on Hypertension, Human Attention, Stress, and Brain Wave Patterns

“…The increasing interest in this issue shifted the focus of the applied psychophysiology field from conditioning of visceral responses to self-regulation of attention (Fehmi, 1980). Alpha-increase EEG training has been implicated in improvement of attention (Norris, Lee, Cea & Burshteyn, 1998). Attempts to train subjects to increase the level of alpha activity with operant conditioning began in the 1960s with Kamiya's work (1969).…”

Neurofeedback for AD/HD: A Ratio Feedback Case Study and Tutorial

“…The fact that both protocols led to a significant increase in 8 to 11 Hz activity suggests that further study of the role of alpha is warranted. Norris, Lee, Cea, and Burshteyn (1998) reported that enhancement of Pz alpha (8 to 13 Hz) without any slow wave suppression was effective in improving attention in a healthy college student. On the other hand, Lubar and Lubar (1999) report that many of their AD/HD patients above the age of 14 show excessive alpha activity and a lack of alpha blocking.…”

“…However, to date there have been no published studies to test these, or competing hypotheses. In a single issue of the Journal of Neurotherapy, positive outcomes were reported using four very dissimilar protocols to treat AD/HD (Fenger, 1998;Ramos, 1998;Wadhwani, Radvanski, & Carmody, 1998) or to improve attention in a normally functioning individual (Norris, Lee, Cea, & Burshteyn, 1998). The treatment protocols described in the four articles variously sought to increase 16 to 20 Hz, 13 to 15 Hz, 8 to 13 Hz, and/or 4 to 8 Hz activity while decreasing 4 to 8 Hz or 2 to 7 Hz activity.…”