Effect of passive concentration as instructional set for training enhancement of EEG alpha.
S S Knox
Perceptual and Motor Skills December 1980 DOI: 10.2466/pms.1980.51.3.767 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | Adults with resting EEG alpha between 15% and 74% |
| Duration | Four 5-minute trials per day for 4 consecutive days |
| Measures | EEG alpha, heart rate, skin conductance |
| Key findings | Participants instructed in passive concentration showed significantly less alpha than controls, and controls showed no increase above baseline. The authors attribute the reduction to 20-minute daily training periods, a practice advocated by Transcendental Meditation but discouraged by autogenic training, and conclude that passive concentration's relevance for alpha enhancement is doubtful. |
Abstract
The technique of passive concentration, employed by autogenic training and Transcendental Meditation for achieving relaxation, was tested here as a technique for enhancing EEG alpha. Of 30 subjects displaying between 15% and 74% alpha in their resting EEGs recruited, 10 had to be eliminated. The remaining 20 constituted two groups. One was instructed only to attempt to maintain a tone indicating alpha but given no information about technique (control group). The other was given additional instructions in passive concentration (experimental group). Both were given four 5-min. trials a day for 4 consecutive days. Heart rate and skin conductance were measured to monitor autonomic arousal. The group receiving instructions in passive concentration had significantly less alpha than the control group, which did not increase amount of alpha above baseline. The reduction of alpha in the experimental group was interpreted as resulting from beginning long training periods (20 min. per day), a practice advocated by Transcendental Meditation but discouraged by autogenic training. It was concluded that the relevance of passive concentration for alpha enhancement is doubtful.