Research utilizing sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) biofeedback with epileptics suggests that it is necessary in decreasing seizures. Case study reports have also indicated that relaxation training can change seizure frequency. It was hypothesized that subjects could learn to control percent SMR, that seizure frequency would significantly decrease with relaxation training and further decrease with SMR biofeedback. Seizure frequency was hypothesized to be inversely related to percent SMR activity. / Subjects were six young adults with a diagnosis of epilepsy of at least two years who had been unable to control their seizures with different regimens of anticonvulsant medications. Subjects ranged in IQ from severely mentally handicapped to above average functioning. Seizure type, frequency, and duration were recorded by subjects and caretakers. Measures of operant learning were percent time in SMR. / The experiment utilized a single subject multiple baseline design which consisted of six phases: baseline three, biofeedback treatment two and followup. / The results of this study are in agreement with other studies using SMR biofeedback. All subjects were able to significantly increase percent time in SMR. Five out of the six subjects demonstrated decreases in seizure frequency during the treatment phase. Two of the six subjects benefited from relaxation training. Four subjects demonstrated significant negative correlations between percent SMR and seizure rates. Consistent with other studies utilizing multiple baseline designs, a majority of the subjects did not follow the design of the study. / Results were discussed in terms of the normalization effect of biofeedback on the EEG. Overall, the results of this study are positive. The subject who did not demonstrate significant decreases in seizure frequency with biofeedback, did maintain significant decreases in seizure. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-12, Section: B, page: 5091. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1986.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76006 |
| Contributors | TOZZO, CARMEN INES., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 113 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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