2017, Volume 9, Issue 3

Application of the EEG Biofeedback method in attention deficits therapy in young sportspeople - A pilot study

Małgorzata Artymiak¹, Michał Niewiadomy², Małgorzata Pielecka-Sikorska³, Agnieszka Weiner<sup>4

1</sup>Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology, Psychological Diagnosis and Therapy Center, School of Economics and Innovation in Lublin
²PROFECTUS – Psychological Development Center, Lublin
³Academic Secondary School of Sports Championship, School of Economics and Innovation in Lublin
⁴Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology, School of Economics and Innovation in Lublin


Author for correspondence: Małgorzata Artymiak; Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology, Psychological Diagnosis and Therapy Center, School of Economics and Innovation in Lublin; email: malgorzata[at]artymiak.com

Full text

Abstract

Background: While working with contestants, sports psychology has been successfully applying the biofeedback (neurofeedback) method since 1970s, noticing its potential in the  field of attention concentration, decrease in destructive tension hindering achievement of the expected results in various sports disciplines. The researchers aimed at demonstrating to what extent the EEG Biofeedback method may prove useful in correcting attention concentration deficits in young sportspeople). The presented research project was of a pilot character, and the studies undertaken may be extended and modified.
Material/Methods: The research project included young sportspeople (16–17 years old) who were students of the Academic Secondary School of Sports Championship at the School of Economics and Innovation in Lublin. Students (N = 20) were assessed by the school psychologist and teachers as to the noticed difficulties in attention concentration, and they were diagnosed with the application of two methods: EEG Biofeedback and Brickenkamp’s Attention Test d2 R. in the Polish adaptation by E. Dajek. On the basis of analysis of the obtained results 10 students were selected, who undertook EEG Biofeedback trainings (20 one-hour sessions, twice a week, in the period between March and June 2016).
Results: Both the attention measurement and the EEG Biofeedback training record assessment demonstrated favorable changes in each of the participants in the project (an increase in the ZK indicator, a change in the brain waves proportion Theta/Beta/Beta2).
Conclusions: The subsequent examination with the use of an attention test as well as analysis of the EEG Biofeedback training record confirmed the effectiveness of the applied method as a method of correcting deficits/ attention concentration difficulties in young sportspeople.

Key words: EEG Biofeedback, sport, attention concentration properties