Biofeedtjack
Volume 34, Issue 3. pp, 79-81
©Association for Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback
www,aapb.org
PROFESSIONAL ISSUES
"The Mind Room" in Italian Soccer Training: The
Use of Biofeedback and Neurofeedback for
Optimum Performance
Vretta E. Wilson, PhD,^ Erik Peper, PhD.^ and Donaid Moss,
'York university. Toronto, Canada; =San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA; ^Saybrook Graduate School, San Francisco, CA
Keywords: optimum performance, biofeedback, neurofeedback, preperformance states, desensiti2ation
Members of the Italian soccer team that recently won the
World Cup utilized a number of biofeedback and neurofeedback
techniques labeled the "Mind Room." The integration
of biofeedback and neurofeedback into the common
practices of sport psychology can be used to assess
and teach the athletes to maintain appropriate breathing,
relaxed muscles, coherent heart rhythms and dominant
alpha brain states. Details on the Mind Room protocol are
closely <^uarded, but the present authors detail fonr components
well documented in sports psychophysiology. In
order to score game winning penalty kicks, the athletes
need to remain calm, alert, and focused on the goal while
pmndemonium is occurring all around them.
Introduction
Sport psychology has evolved to the point that common
practices are found across sports and countries. Tbe
objectives of the cotnmon practices in sport psycbology
include maintaining or enbancing motivation (goal setting,
reinforcement, etc), controllitig body responses
(relaxation, energization, repetition for automatic skill),
controlling mind responses (arousal, attention, nonthinking),
and preparing for performance under stress
(prematch preparation, presbot or critical mornents pertortnance,
mental recovery, etc.). Tbe techniques used
include relaxation, psycbopbysiological assessment,
biofeedback, neurofeedback, cognitive restructuring,
imagery, and simulation (Wilson, Peper, & Schmid, 2006).
The major focus is to make tbe performance automatic
and ro bave recovery and back-up systems in place that
allow athletes or any professional to perform in a stressful
situation wbeti performance is not iuitomatic. By
developing ritualized routines, tbese performances are
more likely to become automatic (Singer, 2002).
The mastery of these optimum performance skills
may have contributed to tbe Italian team's success in
winning tbe 2006 world cup soccer championship, since
Aaron Derfe! reported tbat some of the players bad
trained in a so-called "Mind Room" using meditation.
pbysiological relaxation, and visualization techniques to
enbance tbeir relaxation, alertness, and focused responsiveness
on the playing field (2006a, 2006b). Derfel also
reported that the Mind Room staff used a multi-modal
biofeedback system {ProComp-infiniti™; Thought
Technology, Ltd., West Cbazy, NY) for physiological
recording and training.
Specific infonnation on the techniques used in the
Mind Room are proprietary and not available for publication.
However, the present authors will introduce four
widely used and well documented behavioral and psycbophysiological
components useful in sport. Tbe components
to be described include preperformance state
training, pbysiological assessment to master the zone of
optimal functioning, desensitizatioti, and inhibition of
self-talk. One case example used will be taken from tbe
sports physiology practice of Dr. Wilson, and docs not
include any information on tbe Italian athletes participating
in tbe World Cup. However, likely applications
will be discussed for a high intensity sport such as World
Cup soccer. I
Pre-performance state Training
The training of optitnal preperfoimance states would prepare
soccer players for the enormous pressure (playing in
a world championship for a country in v^^hich fans and
even politicians identify themselves as "tbe" soccer country
in the world) with numerous distractions (media, scandal,
rabid noisy fans) usir^ meditation, imagery, and
desensitization while monitoring and training psychopbysiological
responses (Kamata, Tenenbaum, &
Hanin, 2002; Martin, Moritz> & Hall, 1999).
Physiological Assessment to iViaster the
zone of Optimal Functioning
The assessment and training of body and tnitid
responses is routinely done in the Mind Room by
monitoring EEC (eiectroencephalographj, EMG (electromyograph),
temperature, heart rate variability.
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The use of Biofeedback and Neurofeedback for Optimum Performance
blood volume pulse, EDA (electrodermal activity), and
respiration, using the Thought Technology Infiniti™
system, while the trainer guides the athletes through
a series of relaxation and meditation exercises until
they learn to master a quiet meditative state. This
state is similar to what is labeled the "zone of optimal
functioning" in the research literature (Kamata,
Tenenbautn, & Hanin, 2002).
Desensitization—Transforming Failure
into Success
Alter learning how to maintain the quiet readiness state,
the athlete then visualizes himself playing in an actual
game. The athletes also watch videos of past performance.
When there is an inappropriate body response,
such as muscle tension, as they watch an error in their
performance, they are guided back to the relaxed and
focused state with their attention drawn to creating positive
responses to the past errors. The desensitization
procedure is continued until the athletes can view the
videos with minimal arousal or alarm during the performance
errors. They also are trained to imagine
upcoming situations, such as penalty kicks, while being
monitored to assure the same quiet, calm, and focused
state. This simulation helps condition the athlete to
unfamiliar or stressful situations.
Inhibition of Seif-Talk
For optimum performance, athletes perform automatically.
Ideally it is a state of "non-thinking" and this is an
important part of the training. This non-thinking state
can be identified from specific EEG frequencies and locations
when monitoring athletes from self-paced sports
such as golf or shooting for good and poor performances
(Hatfield, Haufler, & Spaulding, 2006). The major
research in this area shows a need to increase left-hemisphere
alpha activity (at F7, T4, and T3 in right dominant
subjects) and to inhibit 12 Hz activity recorded at T3 (as
an indicator of disruptive inner self-talk) (Hatfield,
Haufler, & Spaulding, 2006). Training thus aims to
increase most alpha range activity, but decreases the specific
12 Hz activity. (Table 1 shows the training bands for
EEG biofeedback).
Case example
The following example is a fifteen year old tennis player,
of international caliber, who had a problem maintaining
emotional control on the court, which cost him
points as well as good will. We follow a training strategy
of lowering arousal (by increasing Sensorimotor
60
Figure 1. EEG recorded from cz while the athlete was resting after a reaction
time task. The increased amplitude from 20 to 36 Hz indicates
increased rumination.
Table 1. Training bands for
Alpha
Sensorimotor Rythym
Low Beta
High Beta busy brain
inner Self Talk T3 T5
EEG feedback.
8-13 Hz
12-15 Hz
15-18 Hz
23-38 Hz
12 HZ
Rhythm activity) and focusing attention (by inhibiting
Theta activity) at Gz (Wilson, Peper, & Thompson, in
press). Similarly, individual differences are found such as
increases in high Beta at Cz, which we interpret as "busy
brain," wherein the athlete mentally replays events or
ruminates, and practices inhibiting. His training screen
is also non-functional until he decreases 12 Hz at T3
(self-talk). This busy brain pattern is illustrated in
Figure 1. In this specific example, an athlete in Vietta
Wilson's laboratory indicated that he was frustrated, and
replayed again and again in his mind how he had
"screwed up."
His training consisted of initially guiding him to
become more aware and better able to identify cognitive
rumination, and then introducing systematic
neurofeedback training to inhibit this activity. This, in
conjunction with selecting a new coach who reinforces
an inhibition of all critical self evaluation, has now
put this athlete in the top three in the world in his age
division.
This case example illustrates the complexity of
determining what to train and how to train. Even when
an athlete reaches the top, it is usually impossible to
know what exactly leads to the success. Training protocols
are not mechanical formula; they are specifically
developed and adapted for each performer. This is a
process that is dialectically opposed to systematic controlled
studies. Nevertheless, most athletes and coaches
agree that mental training and mental control is critical
for optimal performance.
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Conclusion
optimum performance training protocols have been
integrated with applied psychophysiology to monitor
the covert and overt physiological response patterns and
states. A number of these approaches have been used to
train Italian soccer players. The success of the Italian
team in winning the World Cup rests on many factors
including superior physical conditioning, skill training,
team tactics, mental preparation, and even luck.
However, the use of the Mind Room in professional soccer
reflects the broadening acceptance and application of
biofeedback and neurofeedback as an integral part of the
training for those whose performance must be optimal
during times of extreme stress.
References
Derfcl, A. (2006a, luly 8). Italy's weapon is all in their
heads [Electronic version]. Montreal Gazette.
Retrieved July 12, 2006 from http://www.canada.
com/montrealgazette/news/story.btmr!'id-f0289b54-
accl-4710-899d-e6227b80e88a&k=98253&p=l
Derfel, A. (2006b, July 8), Will Canada's secret weapon
give Italy an edge? [Electronic version] Vancouver Sun.
Retrieved July 12, 2006 from http://www.canada.
com/vancouversun/news/story.htmJ?id=3b65ab53-fel5-
41dO-a3fO-47a9570[V184b&k-94051&p=2
Hatfield, B. D., HaufJer, A. J., h Spalding, T. W (2006). A
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estimation, journal of Sport and Exercise
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Lidor, R., & Singer, R. N. (2002). Preperformance state,
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Martin, K. A., Moritz, S. E., & Hall, C. R., (1999).
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Wilson, V. E., Peper, E., & Schmid, A. (2006), Strategies
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Applied Sports Psychology (pp. 404-422). New York:
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Wilson, V. E., Peper, E., & Thompson, M. (in press).
Attention! Attention in sport. In M. Linden, B.
Strack, & V. Wilson (Eds.), Biofeedbach and neurofeedback
in sport. New York: Springer.
VIetta Wilson Erik Peper Donald Moss
Correspondence: Vietta E. Wilson, PhD, 359 Strong College, York
University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3J 1P3, email;
vwiison@yorku.ca.
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