Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback最新文献

There are established evidence-based interventions for children with various medical and psychological conditions. In addition, there is evidence supporting biofeedback to treat some of these conditions. However, there remains a gap in the literature in addressing how the practicing clinical psychologist or therapist can apply principles of psychotherapy to enhance biofeedback, as well as how components of biofeedback can enhance the application of evidence-based psychotherapies for children. This article utilizes a case-based approach to highlight some notable pathways for appropriate integration between psychotherapy techniques and biofeedback. It concludes with a summary of the current gaps and opportunities for research to address, as well as opportunities for clinicians and researchers to collaborate to better understand the real-world applications of successful integration of biofeedback with psychotherapy when treating children.

Special operations forces (SOF) soldiers are elite fighters and tactical professionals who perform in high-stress environments. SOF selection processes aim to identify candidates who can sustain performance in high-stress and changing conditions. The vagal nerve is a crucial moderator of stress responses, and its activity (indexed by heart rate variability, HRV) has been shown to predict performance and psycho-physiological resilience in various settings. However, its predictive validity needs to be clarified. This study examined the relationship between HRV and success in an intensive selection procedure. In a historical prospective study, we derived an HRV parameter (root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats, RMSSD) from a 10-second ECG of 365 candidates for an SOF naval unit. The ECG was taken approximately two months before the selection procedure. The predictive validity of other routinely obtained measures was also considered. High RMSSD was significantly associated with success, but this relation disappeared after controlling for confounders (e.g., running score). However, after matching pairs of successful and non-successful candidates on confounders, HRV was again significantly related to course performance. The results of this study support the predictive value of HRV for tactical professionals. Given the high cost of training elite soldiers and the burden they undergo, improving accuracy of the selection processes may reduce the burden on candidates and lead to resource savings. Future studies should measure HRV at several time points with longer ECG records.

This study examines the impact of wearable technologies on posture and movement accuracy in pianists during the learning process. The primary objective was to determine how the use of the Upright Go biofeedback device influences physical parameters and the effectiveness of exercise performance. To achieve this goal, a comparative study was conducted, in which participants were divided into two groups. Participants in Group A utilized the Upright Go device for posture monitoring and correction, whereas Group B followed a traditional training methodology. The study involved students from the Shenyang Conservatory of music, with 30 participants in each group. Prior to using the device, an individual posture calibration session was conducted for Group A. Over a 4-week period, both groups practiced for 1 h daily, performing identical musical exercises. At the end of the course, participants completed a test assignment designed to assess changes in posture and movement accuracy. To analyze the results, quantitative methods, including Student’s t-test and ANCOVA, were employed, alongside qualitative methods such as semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. The findings indicated that participants in Group A demonstrated a significant improvement in spinal deviation angle (an average of 6.4° compared to 13.7° in Group B), as well as greater accuracy and fluidity of movements. Additionally, participants using the device reported a reduction in physical tension and discomfort during practice sessions. Statistical analysis confirmed the significant influence of wearable technologies on key aspects of piano learning. This study highlights the potential for integrating wearable devices into educational processes aimed at enhancing students’ awareness of proper posture and developing precise movement coordination skills. The findings may contribute to the development of innovative methodologies in music education and the improvement of musicians’ physical training.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains a significant clinical challenge with limited treatment options. Although electroencephalogram (EEG) neurofeedback has garnered attention as a prospective treatment modality for PTSD, no comprehensive meta-analysis has been conducted to assess its efficacy and compare different treatment protocols. This study aims to provide a multi-variable meta-regression analysis of EEG neurofeedback’s impact on PTSD symptoms, while also assessing variables that may influence treatment outcomes. A systematic review was performed to identify controlled studies exploring for the efficacy of EEG neurofeedback on PTSD. The overall effectiveness was evaluated through meta-analysis, and a multi-variable meta-regression was employed to discern factors affecting the EEG neurofeedback efficacy. EEG neurofeedback demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in PTSD symptoms immediately post-intervention, with sustained effects observed at one-month and three-month follow-ups. A sub-analysis of sham-controlled studies confirmed that outcomes were not attributable to placebo effects. Sensitivity analysis revealed that excluding two outlying studies resolved heterogeneity entirely, and all subsequent analyses were conducted on the refined dataset. While initial analyses identified target frequency, target region, and feedback modality as significant moderators, meta-regressions controlling for publication year revealed that these effects were confounded by temporal trends in study design and methodological rigor. In contrast, variables related to treatment duration, such as session number, session length, or weeks of intervention, were not significant moderators. These findings suggest that EEG neurofeedback is robust across protocol variations and highlight the importance of methodological advancements in interpreting treatment efficacy. EEG neurofeedback emerges as a promising and robust treatment modality for PTSD, demonstrating sustained therapeutic effects across follow-up periods. Our findings confirm its efficacy beyond placebo effects and highlight the stability of outcomes across diverse neurofeedback protocols. This study underscores the importance of methodological rigor and standardization in EEG neurofeedback research and advocates for larger, well-controlled trials to refine and optimize treatment protocols. These findings reaffirm EEG neurofeedback’s potential as a cost-effective and scalable intervention, while encouraging future research into alternative methodologies to enhance efficacy and expand accessibility.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback therapy in reducing anxiety levels and improving overall well-being among patients diagnosed with rectal cancer. A randomised controlled trial was conducted with 150 patients with rectal cancer who were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 75) or the control group (n = 75). The intervention group received 16 sessions of EEG biofeedback therapy over 8 weeks, whereas the control group received standard care. Anxiety levels were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory at baseline, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up and 12-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes, including quality of life, sleep quality, treatment adherence, cortisol levels and heart rate variability (HRV), were also evaluated. The intervention group showed significant reductions in state anxiety (p < 0.001) and trait anxiety (p < 0.001) compared with the control group at all post-intervention time points. Significant improvements were also observed in the intervention group for quality of life (p < 0.001), sleep quality (p < 0.001), treatment adherence (p < 0.001), cortisol levels (p < 0.01) and HRV (p < 0.01). The effects were maintained at the 12-month follow-up. Electroencephalographic biofeedback therapy is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for reducing anxiety levels and improving overall well-being in patients with rectal cancer. The findings suggest that incorporating EEG biofeedback therapy into the standard care of patients with rectal cancer may enhance their psychological well-being, quality of life, sleep quality, treatment adherence, physiological stress responses and autonomic function. Long-term benefits were observed, indicating the sustainability of the intervention’s effects. Further research is warranted to investigate the underlying mechanisms and potential applications of EEG biofeedback therapy in other cancer populations.

Homeostatic balance provides a conceptual foundation for personality, and balance is a key concept in psychotherapy and psychophysiology. For example, both extreme fear and the absence of fear are considered pathological in both psychotherapy and psychophysiology, whereas a moderate, balanced fear response predicts healthier outcomes. In terms of measurement, however, personality is typically measured using a unipolar approach with more extreme scores (typically higher) indicative of better functioning. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether a moderate, balanced approach to measurement, or individualized allostasis, might better capture healthy functioning. To assess balanced functioning, the Assessment of Schema Adaptability Profile - Revised (ASAP-R) was used, and wellbeing was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale (DASS) and heart rate variability (HF HRV and RMSSD). The IPIP NEO 120 was used to assess the Big 5 model of personality. Moderate responding on the ASAP-R was related to less self-reported depressive symptoms on the DASS, and increased heart rate variability (HF HRV and RMSSD). Developing personality measures designed to assess moderate responding may be beneficial in the context of psychotherapy/psychophysiology integration.

In the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, primary appraisal of stress is considered a cognitive process. Current neuroscience research indicates, however, that our initial awareness of whether something is good, bad, or neutral, is a predominantly affective process, with our core affect being a representation of how the body evaluates life situations over time. We concur with what is now the prevailing view that dualistic theories of mind and body as essentially separate entities are mistaken and have contributed to problematic conceptions of cognition and affect as radically independent operations, one being performed by the mind, the other by the body. In reality, affect and cognition are both bodily processes, and as such are inseparable and interdependent. Affect provides the primary appraisal of the body’s current situation, while cognition builds off the affective response, providing a secondary and often more thorough appraisal. We therefore propose a revised, non-dualistic Transactional Model emphasizing the embodied mind in which our core affect provides the foundation for our primary appraisals and a stronger foundation for conducting psychotherapy.

Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), often resulting from weakened pelvic floor muscles (PFM), significantly impacts quality of life and increases health risks, particularly among the elderly. Strengthening PFMs through exercise is effective, yet invasive treatment protocols deter adherence. Non-invasive surface electromyography (sEMG) provides a promising alternative for assessing PFM strength. This study evaluates a reinforcement-based strategy (R-MVIC) against standard verbal encouragement (SVE) for estimating the maximal voluntary isometric contraction strength (MVIC) of PFMs. Using a single-case reversal design (ABAB), we compared peak amplitudes across experimental and control conditions. All experimental sessions occurred in a small examination room at a major University. Using an (AB)^k single-case research design power analysis to determine our N, we recruited ten participants who performed isolated PFM contractions. The R-MVIC condition involved pre-training, task-specific instructions, criterion-based feedback, and an extinction burst manipulation. To determine the strength of muscle contraction, we used sEMG, placed over the transverse abdominis/internal oblique (TrA/IO) site, to measure muscle activity in microvolts (mV). Results indicated R-MVIC produced significantly higher peak amplitudes compared to SVE, with a mean difference of 746 mV, representing a 52% increase. The R-MVIC condition consistently evoked stronger contractions, demonstrating the efficacy of feedback and extinction bursts in enhancing MVIC estimates. These findings suggest that R-MVIC is a valuable strategy for improving estimates of PFM strength. Overall, the results suggest that sEMG-based biofeedback provides a non-invasive technology for improving treatment protocols.