Facilitation of performance on an arithmetic task as a result of the application of a biofeedback procedure to suppress alpha wave activity

An electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback procedure was used in a pilot study to decrease the percent of time in alpha wave activity with five mentally retarded adults while engaged in an arithmetic test. Analysis of intrasubject and intersubject data revealed an overall significant decrease in the number of alpha events and percent of time in alpha wave activity as compared to baseline conditions. Such a decrease indicated facilitated attention by EEG definition. A collateral increase in percent of problems completed correctly and decrease in the number of distractible head-turning responses were noted. An automated method of determining head position was used and shown to be reliable in comparison to a human observer.