BIOFEEDBACK!!

Question 1

What does biofeedback aim to do?

Answer 1

Aims to control involuntary physiological processes e.g. heart rate / muscle tension. Trains people to control these.

Question 2

Who identified three phases of biofeedback??

Answer 2

BUDZYNSKI (1973) - identified three phases!!

Question 3

What is Phase 1?

Answer 3

PHASE 1: AWARENESS OF OWN PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS RESPONSE
- CLIENT IS CONNECTED TO A MACHINE THAT CONVERTS PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES INTO VISUAL / AUDITORY SIGNALS

1. SCR - MEASURES SWEATING ACTIVITY & CAN BE SHOWN ON A SCREEN
2. EMG - measures muscle tension (ELECTROMYOGRAM - ACTIVITY OF MUSCLES IS CONVERTED INTO TONE OF VARYING PITCH!)
3. EEG - measures brain activity (ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM) - SHOWN ON A SCREEN

Question 4

What happens in Phase 2?

Answer 4

PHASE 2: CONTROL - Client learns to control own physiological processes!!

Client learns & applies relaxation techniques e.g. breathing. Monitors the effect of changes e.g. can see that changed breathing causes change on visual display e.g. altering the line in the desired direction!

younger clients - interactive - GAME-BASED INTERFACE - adjust physiological response to complete on-screen maze

Biofeedback from machine = rewarding, reinforces client’s behaviour - further success more likely i.e. operant conditioning

Question 5

What happens in Phase 3??

Answer 5

PHASE 3: TRANSFER
Client applies learned stress-management techniques e.g. relaxation / breathing techniques outside therapy room & into real life situations where they experience stressors.

Question 6

KEY STUDY: DAVIS (1986) BIOFEEDBACK AND

Answer 6

Biofeedback training. 13 sessions, each 45 mins, 8 weeks. LEARN DEEP-BREATHING & RELAXATION TECHNIQUES

FINDINGS: At an 8month follow up, levels of urinary cortisol & self-reported anxiety = significantly lower than at start of study.

Cortisol levels increased in control group - no form of therapy.
Researchers concluded that this was evidence of significant stabilisation of the HPA system by biofeedback.

Question 7

The machines convert physiological processes into what?

Answer 7

auditory / visual signals!

Question 8

What do SCRs measure?

Answer 8

Skin conductance response / sweating activity!

Question 9

What does EMG stand for? How does it work?

Answer 9

Electromyogram. Activity of muscles is converted into tones of varying pitch!

Question 10

What does EEG stand for?

Answer 10

Electroencephalogram!! Shown on a screen!