biofeedback training

Psychophysiological studies and MRI neuro-imaging findings provide evidence that heart rate variability (HRV) which is in control of our emotions affects our brain cognitive centers. It has been shown that coherent heart-brain interaction can change the pattern of the afferent cardiac input that is sent to the brain. For this purpose, the Institute of HeartMath (IHM) has proposed a kind of biofeedback training, the TestEdge program, which self-regulates negative emotional learning impediments by increasing HRV measures. It leads to an optimal self-generated psychophysiological state that has an important role in cognitive development through autonomic nervous system dynamics. In the present study, through using IHM self-regulated techniques and tools, the TestEdge program was performed on 63 Iranian EFL learners. In particular, the main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of HRV measures on reading comprehension performance. The data was measured and recorded by emWave Desktop device. The results confirmed that the intentional heart-focus techniques led to a beneficial mode of psychophysiological coherence of heart-brain interaction. The results indicated significant differences among EFL students with different levels of high, mid, and low coherence and their reading performance.

Introduction: The aim of present study was to determine the effect of biofeedback training on electrical activity of trapezius muscles and range of motion in people with shoulder impingement syndrome. Martials and Methods: In this study, 20 patients with shoulder impingement syndrome in age range of 20-40 y were selected as the statistical sample and were divided into experimental (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. The experimental group trained by using EMG biofeedback for 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week. The control group was applied only for pre-test and posttest measurements. For data collection, surface electromyography was used to analyze the muscle activity patterns of trapezius muscles (upper, middle, lower), and a goniometer was executed to evaluate the flexion. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to confirm the normality of the data and covariance analysis test was applied to compare pre-test and post-test. Correlated t-test was used to examine within-group changes. Results: In this study, after 8 weeks of biofeedback training in the experimental group, a significant improvement in the electrical activity of the middle trapezius (P=0.000) and lower trapezius muscles (P=0.016) was observed. In addition, a significant improvement in the amount of flexion range of motion (P=0.000) was indicated in the experimental group compared to the pretest and also the control group (P=0.05). However, no significant difference was shown in the muscle activity of the upper trapezius muscle (P=0.776). Conclusion: The present study showed that biofeedback training is effective to improve the electrical activity of trapezius muscle and flexion in people with SIS.