BIOFEEDBACK & SPORT PSYCHOOGY

The relationship between attention and skill development can be assessed with new technology (EEG) biofeedback. Recent brain imaging research has implicated this prefrontal area, and particularly the underlying anterior cingulate cortex, located on both sides of the fissure between the hemispheres, as the location most involved with the executive control of focussed attention and new learning. Brainwave biofeedback methods based on these findings appear to be highly responsive to concentration, particularly on new material, and/or deliberate, narrowly-focused, absorbed attention. Clinical insights into the sequences of concentration and microbreaks in various athletic activities, particularly golf, are being confirmed by brainwave measurements from the frontal midline, which reflect the degree of idling in the Executive Attention Network. Research into the effects skill acquisition on many other brain locations has uncovered a pattern suggesting that expertise involves less cortical activation, corresponding to greater cortical economy, particularly in areas thought to be involved with self-talk. Minimizing this internal conversation during athletic activities can be very beneficial, This colloquim will explore the potential for combining both of these promising approaches to mental skills training.

The assessment of heart rate, muscle tension, brainwave activity and other relevant psychophysiological variables has become valuable in developing awareness of both somatic and cognitive manifestations of confidence as well as anxiety. One set of studies focussed on how trait anxiety and cognitive strategy influenced relaxed attention. In other preliminary work we have discovered that cognitive strategies (e.g., imagery cues, self-talk cues, visual/auditory distractions can serve to condition the athlete's level of concentration. Since trait anxiety yielded no significant results when comparing EEG frequencies across low, moderate, and high anxious groups, we are pursuing more salient indicators of trophotropic states that are conducive optimum performance.

Participants face the challenge of handling eyeblink reflexes as both an artifact as well as a useful indication of arousal/anxiety. Other research considerations include the use of case/ control subjects; decisions on how much data and what sampling speed to use when collecting data; a need to counterbalance conditions/instructions given to participants; and the problems associated with an eyes-closed condition (i.e.; EEG patterns indicating drowsiness and/or conversely participant discomfort with eyes closed and experimenters nearby). Our purpose is to develop new methods of training and conditioning ordinary concentration and attentional focus using modern technology not commonly used in sport psychology.