Neurofeedback Training for Two Dimensions of Attention: Concentration and Alertness

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Neurofeedback Training for Two Dimensions of
Attention Concentration and Alertness

• Jonathan Cowan, Ph.D., BCIACEEG
• NeuroTek, LLC
• Peak Achievement Training

IMTA, 2003
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U.S. Armys Center for Enhanced Performance

• Largest Performance Enhancement Center in the
  U.S.
• Part of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
• Founded by Col. (RET) Louis Csoka, Ph.D. in 1989.
• Built it for five years before retiring.
• Created a similar Peak Performance Center at
  Hillenbrand Industries
• Combines athletic and academic training missions

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Dr. Csokas Assessment

• In todays military, learning the cognitive
  skills is not enough. One must also learn the
  optimal sequence of concentration, alertness and
  relaxation for each activity. At no time has the
  demand for improved attention been greater than
  in todays Army with its high tech weapons and
  the extensive use of advanced information
  technology. The demand for attention has grown
  exponentially while our basic attention skills
  lag far behind.

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Dr. Csoka on Attention Training

• We still basically learn attention as a
  by-product of the education and skills training
  we receive. To be sure, many enhancements have
  been made in the Armys training programs. But
  still today, none directly target the attention
  network in the brain. Attention control training
  with the Peak Achievement Trainer does exactly
  that.

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Brainwave Biofeedback Helps People Overcome
Attention and Emotional Problems

• Biofeedback trains people to better regulate
  their brains and bodies by telling them what is
  happening there more understandably.
• Brainwave biofeedback is also known as
  Neurofeedback or EEG Biofeedback.
• The Peak Achievement Trainer uses much more
  accurate Neurofeedback to detect and improve
  concentration and relaxation.
• It is easier to understand and faster to finish.

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Dr. Lubars Research on Neurofeedback in Children
with AD/HD at the University of Tennessee

• 80 effective in more than 1000 children.
• Average increase in grade level on standardized
  tests is 2.5 years.
• Typical increase in IQ test scores of 8-19 points
• Average Grade Point Average improves 1.5 levels
  (C to B).
• 60 decrease or eliminate medication.
• Major improvements in behavior.
• Monastras study showed permanent gains.

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The Peak Achievement Trainer Senses Your Degree
of Concentration and/or Interest

• It detects the brainwaves from the Executive
  Attention Network and converts them to a measure
  of single pointed focus and interest.
• It then converts the measure to audio and video
  outputs.
• You can use these outputs to learn how to control
  your concentration.
• You can improve through practice.

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Peak Achievement Training Applies Air Force and
NASA Research Showing a Concentration and
Relaxation Cycle

• Dr. Barry Stermans EEG studies of Air Force
  pilots in B2 simulators As they focussed on a
  particular aviation task, the alpha brainwave
  decreased.
• There was an alpha burst as focus ended, and then
  suppression as the next task began.
• We call this the microbreak.
• The more difficult the task, the greater the
  alpha suppression.

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Individual Differences in the Concentration and
Relaxation Cycle Predicted Pilot Performance Very
Accurately

• The better pilots in a B2 instructor selection
  process suppressed parietal alpha more
  completely.
• The better pilots needed a shorter alpha period
  or microbreak before starting to focus again.
• This was the best selection index for B2 bomber
  pilot instructors.
• Correlated above 0.6 with Air Force overall
  performance indicator. No other measure gt 0.4.
• Picked same top 6 pilots from a group of 18.

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Peak Achievement Training is Based on the
Concentration and Relaxation Cycle in Everyday
Experience

• The healthy individual cycles between
  concentration and relaxation by focusing on (part
  of) a task until it is done, and then taking a
  brief rest.
• Even the best trained brain cannot concentrate
  forever.
• Consistent, intense concentration has its costs
  in stress, emotional tension, and disease.
• Teaches relaxation through breathing instructions
  on an audiotape and then integrates it into
  training for the cycle.

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Concentration vs. Alertness/Arousal

• Concentration The degree of Single-pointed
  focus on a perception, thought, or image.
• Zooming in.
• Can be relaxed, very alert, or in-between.
• The Zone.
• Alertness/Arousal More intense stimulation, on
  the edge, excitement.
• Summoning resources to respond.
• Related to stimulation of the Reticular
  Activating System by many studies.
• Enhances emotion.
• Quick burnout if not conserved.

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The Peak Achievement Trainer Measures

• The (inverse) Concentration measure decreases as
  you focus during reading and increases as you
  turn a page.
• The Alertness measure increases with greater
  arousal and effort.
• Video and audio feedback are provided.

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Measures are Responsive in Real-Time to Sequences
of Concentration and Alertness

• Before he reads, this Scholars Edge
  instructor
• Reviews the scheme he has excerpted, rapidly
  shifting between narrower and broader focus.
• Focuses on points of interest.
• Asks himself to set an intent for reading.
• Sets and memorizes his strategy for reading.

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Types of Training for the Cognitive Athlete I

• Strengthening the ability of the Executive
  Attention Network to focus attention.
• Strengthening the ability of the midbrain to
  intensify alertness/arousal.
• Focusing attention on parts of the body that the
  coach wishes to work with.
• Train the user to take brief, relaxing
  microbreaks which recharge the brain.

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Types of Training for the Cognitive Athlete II

• Find the best possible degree of
  alertness/arousal to perform particular
  activities optimally.
• Perform arbitrary sequences of concentration,
  alertness, and microbreaks.
• Discover and enhance performance of the sequences
  that are optimal for particular activities.
• Perform these sequences despite distractions such
  as self-talk and crowd noise.

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Attention Control ProgressFocused Concentration
Range 48-220 sec
Range 18-180 sec
Range 25-65 sec
Range 10-40 sec
Length of Concentration Runs
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The Hillenbrand Peak Performance Center

• Training attention control begins the entire
  process of developing peak performance, in the
  military and elsewhere. The Peak Achievement
  Trainer provides an excellent tool for developing
  enhanced skills in focus and concentration. We
  have been working with business executives at a
  Fortune 1000 company on their attention skills as
  part of a broader peak performance training
  program that is an integral component of their
  leadership development program...

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Measurable Improvements from Peak Achievement
Training

• We have been able to demonstrate measurable
  improvements in their ability to attend in
  crucial meetings, engage in critical performance
  appraisals with employees, and deliver
  exceptional presentations. The Peak Achievement
  Trainer provides the critical feedback during
  attention control training needed to develop this
  skill to a level equal to what elite athletes
  have been able to achieve.
• Col. (RET.) Louis Csoka, Ph.D.

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Military Uses Proposed by Our DARPA Project

• Mental exercise trainer.
• Enhance the users capacity for concentration and
  alertness.
• Help recruits with attention problems.
• Decrease fatigue.
• Enhance memory and new learning.
• Improve personnel selection.
• Workload monitoring.
• Add a new dimension to simulation and
  computer-based training.
• Improve the design of CBT by measuring the
  interest of the student from moment to moment.
• The DARPA Student State Project.

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Information About the Students Focus and
Alertness Can be Gathered and Displayed During
Simulation or CBT

• Learning and maintaining the optimal sequence of
  states is an important goal.
• A semi-transparent overlay can be placed in the
  lower right corner of the screen.
• Displays can show both instantaneous and
  time-averaged Concentration and Alertness.
• Audio feedback can steer the user back to the
  optimal state.
• Warning signals can be provided as flashing text
  or interruptions.
• Followed by a dynamically generated review.

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The Training Database Can Record EEG Responses to
Many Different Types of Events

• Comparison with a library of experts
  performances can help us to understand the
  optimal sequences for each task.
• Our patent 5,983,129 covers analyzing these
  brainwave signals in association with an event
  and also using them to modify the subsequent
  presentation by a computer or simulator.

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Our Project Proposal Also Includes Improved
Equipment and Validation Studies

• Our collaborators have developed a new system
  small enough to fit completely on a golf visor.
• It will soon be wirelessly connected to the PC.
• We have planned a very sophisticated series of
  further validation studies for our ConAlert
  measures and new, more powerful ones under
  development.
• If you are interested in exploring the
  possibilities for collaboration, please contact
  me here or by email at jon_at_peakachievement.com.
• Please take a handout with contact info.
• Demos in Room 217.