Abstract
Various types of noncontingent feedback have been used as control procedures in EMG training; however, their effects on such training have received little attention. Experiment 1 in the present study examined the effects of noncontingent feedback on EMG training, and Experiment 2 assessed the effects of feedback characteristics on EMG responses. In Experiment 1, three noncontingent feedback groups (yoked control, randomly fluctuating tones, and decreasing tones) and one contingent group underwent 20 minutes of training for frontal EMG decreases. Procedures in Experiment 2 were identical to those in Experiment 1 except that subjects were instructed merely to listen to the feedback tones. Results of Experiment 1 indicated that contingent and noncontingent fluctuating feedback groups achieved significantly lower EMG levels than noncontingent decreasing and yoked control groups. In Experiment 2, however, no differences in EMG activity were found among groups. In both experiments, groups did not differ in terms of subjective variables such as frustration, suspiciousness about the tone, or length of time attending to the tone. Results of these two experiments suggest that differences in EMG responses to various types of noncontingent feedback result from interactions between characteristics of the feedback stimulus and instructions to decrease the stimulus.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alexander, A. B., & Smith, D. D. (1979). Clinical applications of EMG biofeedback. In B. J. Gatchel & K. P. Price (Eds.),Clinical applications of biofeedback: Appraisal and status. New York: Pergamon Press.
Alper, J. S. (1977). The influence of EMG feedback and training site on the acquisition, generalization, transfer, and retention of inhibitory neuromuscular control (Doctoral dissertation, University of Iowa, 1977).Dissertation Abstracts International, 38, 1867–1867B. (University Microfilms No. 77-21, 104).
Budzynski, T. H., & Stoyva, J. M. (1969). An instrument for producing deep muscle relaxation by means of analog information feedback.Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 2, 231–237.
Budzynski, T. H., Stoyva, J. M., Adler, C. S., & Mullaney, D. J. (1973). EMG biofeedback and tension headache: A controlled outcome study.Psychosomatic Medicine, 35, 484–496.
Bures, J., & Fisher, L. E. (1981). Transfer of stress-coping practice to a stress-producing situation.Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 6 416–417. (Abstract)
Bures, J., & Kotses, H. (1981). Schedules of reinforcement in frontal EMG conditioning.Psychophysiology, 18 143. (Abstract)
Carlson, J. G. (1977). Locus of control and frontal electromyographic response training.Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 2 259–271.
Carlson, J. G. (1980). Proportional and discrete feedback in frontal EMG training.Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 5 360–361. (Abstract)
Carlson, J. G., & Feld, J. L. (1978). Role of incentives in the training of the frontal EMG relaxation response.Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 1 427–436.
Cohen, H. D., Graham, C., Fotopoulos, S. S., & Cook, M. R. (1977). A double-blind methodology for biofeedback research.Psychophysiology, 14 603–608.
Coursey, R. D. (1975). Electromyograph feedback as a relaxation technique.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 43 825–834.
Davis, J. F. (1952).Manual of surface electromyography. Montreal: Laboratory for Psychological Studies, Allen Memorial Institute of Psychiatry.
Fisher, L. E., & Kotses, H. (1974). Experimenter and subject sex effects in the skin conductance response.Psychophysiology, 11 191–196.
Gatchel, R. J., Korman, M., Weiss, C. B., Jr., Smith, D., & Clarke, L. (1978). A multiple response evaluation of EMG biofeedback performance during training and stress-induction conditions.Psychophysiology, 15 253–258.
Glaus, K. D., & Kotses, H. (1979). Generalization of conditioned muscle tension: A closer look.Psychophysiology, 16 513–519.
Graham, C., Cohen, H. D., Cook, M. R., Gerkovich, M. M., Phelps, J. W., & Fotopoulos, S. S. (1981). Physiological learning and biofeedback: A criterion study using double-blind, yoked-control procedures.Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 6 424. (Abstract)
Harver, A., & Kotses, H. (1982). Distribution of practice and resistance to extinction in frontal EMG conditioning.Psychophysiology, 19 322. (Abstract)
Hatch, J. P. (1982). Controlled group designs in biofeedback research: “What does the control group control for?”Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 7 377–390.
Haynes, S. N., Moseley, D., & McGowan, W. T. (1975). Relaxation training and biofeedback in the reduction of frontalis muscle tension.Psychophysiology, 12 547–552.
Jessup, B. A., & Neufeld, R. W. J. (1977). Effects of biofeedback and “autogenic relaxation” techniques on physiological and subjective responses in psychiatric patients: A preliminary analysis.Behavior Therapy, 8 160–167.
Kappes, B., & Michaud, J. (1978). Contingent versus noncontingent EMG feedback and hand temperature in relation to anxiety and locus of control.Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 3 51–60.
Katkin, E. S., & Goldband, S. (1979). The placebo effect and biofeedback. In R. J. Gatchel & K. P. Price (Eds.),Clinical applications of biofeedback: Appraisal and status. New York: Pergamon Press.
Kiffer, J. J., Fridlund, A. J., & Fowler, S. C. (1981). Effects of alternative control procedures for electromyographic biofeedback relaxation research.Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 6 225–233.
Kinsman, R. A., O'Banion, K., Robinson, S., & Staudenmayer, H. (1975). Continuous biofeedback and discrete posttrial verbal feedback in frontalis muscle relaxation training.Psychophysiology, 12 30–35.
Kinsman, R. A., & Staudenmayer, H. (1978). Baseline levels in muscle relaxation training.Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 3 97–104.
Kirk, R. E. (1968).Experimental design: Procedures for the behavioral sciences Belmont, California: Brooks/Cole.
Kondo, C. Y., & Canter, A. (1977). True and false electromyographic feedback: Effect on tension headache.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 86 93–95.
Kotses, H., & Bures, J. (1982). Effects of subject expectancy in EMG training.Psychophysiology, 19 330. (Abstract)
Kotses, H., Glaus, K. D., Bricel, S. K., Edwards, J. E., & Crawford, P. L. (1978). Operant muscular relaxation and peak expiratory flow rate in asthmatic children.Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 22 17–23.
Kotses, H., Glaus, K. D., Crawford, P. L., Edwards, J. E., & Scherr, M. S. (1976). Operant reduction of frontalis EMG activity in the treatment of asthma in children.Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 20 453–459.
Kotses, H., & Layh, J. P. (1981). Correlation between sample and integrated measures of EMG activity.American Journal of Clinical Biofeedback, 4 117–120.
Kotses, H., & Weiner, H. (1982). Effects of home practice exercises on EMG activity subsequent to biofeedback training.American Journal of Clinical Biofeedback, 5 103–109.
Segreto-Bures, J., & Kotses, H. (1982). Experimenter expectancy effects in frontal EMG conditioning.Psychophysiology, 19 467–471.
Siddle, D. A. T., & Wood, L. (1978). Effects of frontalis EMG feedback on frontalis tension level, cardiac activity, and electrodermal activity.Biological Psychology, 7 169–173.
Staudenmayer, H., & Kinsman, R. A. (1976). Awareness during electromyographic biofeedback: Of signal or process?Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 1 191–199.
Stern, G. S., & Berrenberg, J. L. (1977). Biofeedback training in frontalis muscle relaxation and enhancement of belief in personal control.Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 2 173–182.
Winer, B. J. (1962).Statistical principles in experimental design. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Yock, T. J. (1977). Electromyographic feedback as a relaxation procedure: A psychophysiological evaluation (Doctoral dissertation, University of Rochester, 1977).Dissertation Abstracts International, 38, 2895B. (University Microfilms No. 77-25, 494)
Yorde, B. S., & Witmer, J. M. (1980). An educational format for teaching stress management to groups with a wide range of stress symptoms.Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 5 75–90.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by Ohio University Research Grants No. 9147 and No. 9155 to the first author.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Segreto-Bures, J., Kotses, H. Effects of noncontingent feedback on EMG training, EMG responses, and subjective experience. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation 9, 25–36 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00998843
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00998843