Comparison of the Effectiveness of Neurofeedback and Mindfulness Training in Improving the Executive Function of Athlete Students'

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of neurofeedback training and mindfulness in improving the executive functions of athlete students' planning. The research method was semi-experimental with pre-test and post-test and follow up with control group. The statistical population of the present study was 150 male athlete students who studied physical education at Kharazmi University in 1396-1397. To this end, 60 male students of physical education at Kharazmi University were randomly assigned to three groups of 20. The first group (neurofeedback) received 16 training sessions individual, twice a week and the second group (mindfulness), received 8 training sessions in group, once a week and the third group (the witness) did not receive any interventions. The research tool was a Tower of London computer planning test. Data were analyzed using repeated measurement ANOVA. The mean of the two experimental groups was significantly different with the control group in the components of test time, delay time for programming, errors and points in the post-test and follow-up stages. However, the mean of experimental groups did not differ significantly. It can be concluded that both neurofeedback education and mindfulness training both improve the planning performance of athlete students, each in their own place can improve the planning functionality.