How does it feel to switch between relaxation and concentration states? A closer look at EEG neurofeedback protocol in development
Abstract
Seven active musicians (all males, age 24 - 44) were offered the possibility of testing a new neurofeedback protocol using sonic feedback to guide them through three different mental states characterized by distinct levels of arousal and specific patterns of electrical activity on the neocortex. The training protocol was developed to facilitate the process of switching voluntarily between states of concentration, relaxed attention and relaxation, all in one 30min long session.
Unlike most of the neurofeedback training protocols, this one does not offer a relief from a specific set of symptoms or the enhancement of mental powers. Rather, in this instance, neurofeedback was used as a tool to offer insights into the workings of the brain.
The method of qualitative inquiry was chosen as the most suitable instrument to verify if the training was working in the way that it was intended to do. Moreover, this achieved the added advantage of getting a better understanding from the subjects' point of view of the training experience.
Each of the seven subjects underwent one to three training sessions. Each of the sessions was followed by a semi-structured interview targeting various aspects of the training (e.g. subjective feelings during each training round, impressions from the game design and its functionality, feeling of control over the game environment...), the format of the interview being very flexible, and always following up on the strongest impressions and ideas of each of the subjects.
In this paper we concentrate namely on the qualities and specificities of mental states as experienced by the subjects during training, and on the strategies they used to control the game and their mental state. Selectively driven thematic analysis was implemented in order to get answers to our research questions.
From between diversity of motives identified in the interviews, using selectively driven thematic analysis, we managed to sublimize a description of a mental state that led to success in the game rather universally. According our subjects, to make the neurofeedback game work, you had to delve deeply into the process, shut out all extraneous thoughts, but try hard not to consciously direct the focus of your thinking.