Biofeedback modification of frontal EMG in normal subjects

We carried out a controlled study on the voluntary control of the frontalis muscle by biofeedback procedures employing 20 normal subjects. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups of 10: (1) the biofeedback group and (2) the control group. Each of the two groups received five training sessions of about 40 minutes' duration each on different days. The results obtained are as follows: (1) In the biofeedback group, mean EMG levels decreased progressively and markedly from 2. 16 muVp-p min the first session to 1.54 muVp-p min in the last session. On the contrary, the control group did not show constant decreases in EMG levels over sessions. (2) The changes in the heart rate did not correlate with the changes in EMG activity. (3) The changes in the respiratory rate correlated with the changes in EMG activity.