Comparison of Auditory and Visual Feedback for EMG Training

Abstract

27 undergraduate students participated in an experiment on EMG biofeedback. Three groups were employed (visual biofeedback, audio biofeedback, and control) to determine which group learned to reduce frontalis muscle tension more quickly. All subjects were trained during a 30-min. period for five days. The time consisted of a 10-min. baseline and a 20-min. biofeedback session. Over a 5-day period relaxation in the forehead due to biofeedback improved significantly. More training time yielded an increased relaxation in this area, and most learning occurred during the first two days. The significant interaction of training and time illustrated that the two biofeedback groups produced a more pronounced relaxation in the forehead muscle than did the control group. No significant difference was found between the two biofeedback groups.