Effectiveness of spontaneous mental strategies used during neurofeedback training in individuals with deficits in executive functioning.

Stróżyk, Anna (2024) Effectiveness of spontaneous mental strategies used during neurofeedback training in individuals with deficits in executive functioning. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

Deficiencies in Executive functions (EF) are considered a transdiagnostic factor in almost all forms of psychopathology. Neurofeedback (NF) training is a promising treatment option that has been shown to be effective in enhancing EF. However, the mental processes leading to successful NF training are largely unknown. During NF, mental strategies (MS) used by participants to enhance their brain activity are applied and have been documented for some studies. Therefore, in the current exploratory study, we used these and categorized them to investigate the effectiveness of various categories of MS, focusing on corresponding objective and subjective measures. We obtained the data from previous frontal-midline theta NF training, collected from 38 participants from the experimental group, corresponding to N = 4046 MS. Participants were classified as responders or non-responders based on their ability to upregulate their brain activity. Results of the analysis revealed that out of the identified 21 categories of MS, four of them were objectively particularly effective: ‘Calculating and Logical Thinking,’ ‘Nature and Environment,’ ‘Navigating Spaces,’ and ‘Breathing, Relaxation, and Mindfulness’. Significantly different categories of MS were found to be subjectively effective, and a very weak positive correlation between subjective ratings of their effectiveness and objective measures was found. Additionally, participants who responded to NF were found to be using different MS than those who did not respond, although there was no difference in the accuracy of their effectiveness assessments. We conclude that MS identified as more effective should be communicated to participants and validated by future studies.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor)
Supervisor name:	Enriquez Geppert, S.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	None [Bachelor Psychology]
Date Deposited:	15 Jul 2024 13:38
Last Modified:	15 Jul 2024 13:38
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3903

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