Theta Neurofeedback Training Supports Motor Performance and Flow Experience

Figures

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  Fig. 1. Overview of the neurofeedback training schedule. Neurofeedback consisted of fives minutes of resting EEG followed by six 5-minute training blocks. Training-induced enhancement in flow experience and performances in a finger tapping and an n-back task were investigated from one pretraining to two posttraining sessions

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  Fig. 2. Neurofeedback training results over all participants and NFT scores for responders and non-responders. (a) Overall, participants were able to increase their FM theta activity relative to the baseline during NFT. Error bars indicate standard error of the mean. (b) Participants’ NFT score, that is, the percentage change of FM theta activity from the first two training blocks of different upregulation strategy usage to the remaining four training blocks of preferred strategy usage, was used to determine participants’ NFT success. Participants with a NFT score greater than zero were classified as responders, whereas participants with a NFT score smaller than zero were classified as non-responders. Thus, the NFT score reflects the ability to use the chosen strategy to increase FM theta activity successfully

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  Fig. 3. Training-induced changes in motor performance and flow experience. (a) Motor performance increased from pretest to posttest and to follow-up session for all participants as well as for responders relative to non-responders. (b) Participants’ NFT score, that is, the percentage change of FM theta activity from the first two training blocks to the remaining four training blocks, significantly predicted pre- to posttest enhancement of motor performance. (c) Global flow experience during finger tapping increased across all pre- and posttraining sessions but differed between responders and non-responders only at posttest. (d) The NFT score significantly predicted pre- to posttest flow enhancement−even if motor performance enhancement and joy felt after NFT was controlled for. (e) Responders indicated to have clearer goals and a greater autotelic experience compared to non-responders during finger tapping at posttest. (f) Participants with a smaller FM theta change during NFT showed a greater flow enhancement from posttest to follow-up session. However, this relationship was not significant when controlling for respective motor performance enhancement. Error bars indicate standard error…

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  Fig. 4. Transfer to cognitive control measured with a visual n-back task. (a) Pr scores in the 2-back condition increased from pretest to posttest but remained constant from posttest to the follow-up measurement. (b) Reaction times in the 2-back condition and (c) in the 0-back condition decreased from pretest to posttest but remained constant between posttest and follow-up measurement. There were no differences between responders and non-responders, indicating that performance enhancements are solely based on task repetition. * p < .05, ** p < .01, *** p < .001