The relationship of violence to alpha levels in a biofeedback training paradigm

Evaluated alpha levels in a biofeedback training paradigm in groups of violent and nonviolent offenders and controls (N = 40). Mean alpha frequencies were higher for the offender group than for the controls, while alpha density (percent time) was lower. The violent subset demonstrated significantly higher frequencies than their nonviolent counterparts, but lower alpha densities and integrated amplitudes. In addition, the results clearly indicated that biofeedback training did not elevate significantly the levels of alpha production for any of the groups, above either the eyes open or the eyes closed baselines. The results of the between-groups comparisons were interpreted in terms of differences in cortical arousal as related to antisocial behaviors.