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ON THE MECHANISMS OF THE FEEDBACK CONTROL OF HUMAN BRAIN WAVE ACTIVITY
74
Citations
0
References
1971
Year
Brain MechanismInhibitory ProcessAffective NeuroscienceAlpha RhythmsMotor ControlAttentionSocial SciencesNeural MechanismNeurodynamicsAlpha RhythmCognitive ElectrophysiologyVoluntary ControlCognitive NeuroscienceHealth SciencesSensorimotor ControlCognitive ScienceAutonomic SystemNervous SystemBrain CircuitryThe MechanismsNeurophysiologyNeural CircuitsPhysiologyNeuroscienceCentral Nervous SystemAlpha Density
The recent attention given to the feedback control of human brain wave activity and the implications of such control prompts a careful analysis of this phenomenon. Particular emphasis is placed on the learned control of the alpha rhythm. A review of possible factors which might influence the density of alpha rhythms led to the differentiation of three general sources of influence: constitutional, physiological, and cognitive-attentional factors. Each of these factors is discussed as a possible mediator of the learned control of the alpha rhythm. The view is advanced that increases in alpha density during feedback training arise from a diminution of those factors which block this rhythm, and some implications of such a view are discussed. Several of the issues raised appear generalizable to the whole question of the operant control of autonomic activity.