Shutting down sensorimotor interference unblocks the networks for stimulus processing: An SMR neurofeedback training study

Sensorimotor Rhythm Neurofeedback Enhances Golf Putting Performance

“…Increasing SMR power through NFT is also related to more efficient and modulated visuomotor performance (Gruzelier et al, 2010;Ros et al, 2009). These results suggest that augmenting SMR power led to an improved adjustment of somatosensory and sensorimotor pathways (Kober et al, 2014), which resulted in increased task-related attention toward specific tasks (Egner & Gruzelier, 2001). Moreover, previous studies have suggested that enhanced SMR power leads to a relatively higher flow state (Gruzelier et al, 2010) and calming mood (Gruzelier, 2014a).…”

“…These results indicate that visuospatial processing, semantic memory regulation, and the integration of relevant stimuli can be improved following augmented SMR NFT. Collectively, the benefits of augmented SMR NFT can be attributed to an improved regulation of somatosensory and sensorimotor pathways, which in turn leads to more efficient attention allocation (Kober et al, 2014) that results in an improved processing of task-relevant stimuli.…”

Higher power of sensorimotor rhythm is associated with better performance in skilled air-pistol shooters

“…Collectively, these results suggest that lower sensorimotor processing decreased interference with visual processing (Sterman, 1996), indicating a lower complexity during motor performance, which could strengthen cognitive performance by improving attentional processing (Kober et al, 2015). This adaptive cognitive processing is conducive to natural internal guidance for action execution (Milton, Solodkin, Hlu stík, & Small, 2007) and is associated with the type of optimal-automatic performance from the MAP model Di Fronso et al, 2016).…”

“…Similarly, Doppelmayr and Weber (2011) demonstrated that participants exhibited improved performance on spatial rotation, simple, and choice reaction time tasks, suggesting advanced visuospatial ability after augmented SMR NFT. Augmented SMR NFT also improved the memory and attentional performance, accompanied by increased N1 and P3 event-related potential amplitudes (Kober et al, 2015). In the context of sport performance, higher SMR power in the final Fig.…”

“…SMR is a special category of EEG frequency ranging from 12 to 15 Hz observed in the sensorimotor cortex and is related to activation of this area (Sterman, 1996). Specifically, SMR power is inversely related to sensorimotor cortex activity (Sterman, 1996), indicating that lower thalamic nucleus activity is associated with less interference of somatosensory processing (Kober et al, 2015). In addition to the low and high alpha frequencies reflecting the attentional processing in general aspects and in semantic tasks, respectively (Klimesch, 1996), higher SMR power has been characterized as an adaptive state of refined taskrelated neural processing during psychomotor and attentionrelated tasks (Gruzelier, Egner, & Vernon, 2006;Gruzelier, Inoue, Smart, Steed, & Steffert, 2010;Kober et al, 2015;Ros et al, 2009).…”