Comparison of Biofeedback Modalities for Better Achievement in High School Students

The aim of this pilot study was to compare three biofeedback methods for enhancement of cognitive abilities (concentration and attention) in high school students. The sample comprises 50 students in high school for nurses, aged 1618 years, devised in three groups: I - 30 students trained with EEG-Peak Achievement Trainer (EEG-PAT); II - 10 students trained with Electrodermal Response Biofeedback (EDR); and III - 10 students trained with Heart Rate Variability (HRV). The EEG-PAT is supposed to activate the Executive Attention Network, while HRV and EDR were supposed to influence indirectly, through the stabilization of autonomous nervous system. As psychometric tests we used: Trail Making Test (form A and form B) and numbering forward and backward, each one applied prior and after the experiment. The obtained results suggested that EEG-PAT can be successfully used for improving the concentration and attention and to a less extend the Short Term Memory Span. The HRV showed modest improvement (only for numbers), and EDR group did not show significant improvement in the concentration, attention and the Short Term Memory Span. However, all the three methods are highly cost-benefit and very comfortable for application and can be used for stabilization of the homeostasis.