The effect of neurofeedback training on attention rate in proficient track and field âathletics

Introduction: Neurofeedback has been used for diagnosis and treatment of different disorders; in addition, it has been used for improvement of healthy person's daily activities and its quality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of neurofeedback training on the rate attention in track and field athletes. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial study was performed with pre and post-tests along with control and placebo groups. Therefore 36 track and field athletics was chosen voluntarily and purposefully, the subjects was selected randomly in 3 groups that each of the group had 12 members (experimental, placebo and control). Intervention was made in a form of increased beta-wave in Cz and Fz over 12 sessions. Attention was evaluated by software of attention test. For data analysis, Kolmogorov�Smirnov test, One-way ANOVA and Post-Hoc (LSD) were used. Results: One-way ANOVA analysis showed a significant relationship between the actual neurofeedback training and increasing athletes� attention in different groups (P=0.002). Post-Hoc test revealed a significant discrepancy between interventional group and control group (P=0.003) and interventional group and Placebo group (P=0.002); while, there was no significant difference between Placebo group and control group (P=0.249). The result demonstrated a significant difference between training and increasing attention in the experimental group. Conclusion: Considering to the positive effect of nerofeedback, perhaps this method can be used as auxiliary training when skills education for increasing learning and improving athletes� attention.