The effect of neurofeedback training on the trait-competitive anxiety of athletes

Neurofeedback is used not only for diagnosis and treatment of different disorders but also for improvement of healthy person''s daily activity and its quality. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of neurofeedback training on competitive-trait anxiety in athletes. The present study is semi-experimental and applied type of research; in which pre-test and post-test of three groups،including interventional،control and sham،are compared. Therefore 36 volunteer athletics have been chosen and organized into groups. Intervention was made in a form of increased Alpha-wave in O1 and O2 regions over 12 sessions. SCAT questionnaire was used for evaluation of trait-competitive anxiety state. Univariate analysis shows significant relationship between the actual neurofeedback training and decreased trait-competitive anxiety state (p= 0. 015). Hoc test revealed the only significant discrepancy exists between interventional group and control group (p=0. 009) and no significant difference exists between interventional group and sham group (p=0. 058) and between sham and control group (p= 0. 477). Normal brain reaction to stress is decreased Alpha-wave and increased beta-wave. Therefore when a person is faced to a stress situation،brain function is increased and beta-waves appear. Alpha-waves induce alert relaxation،mind integration and anxiety reduction.