faster learning in a visual identification task (i.e. detecting targets embedded in background clutter) compared to entrainment that does not match an individual’s alpha frequency. Further, we show that learning is specific to the phase relationship between the entraining flicker and the visual target stimulus.
Doesn’t sound exciting. Habituating people’s attention to the right visual frequency helps them on subsequent frequency specific visual tasks.
Yes, the study flickered a square at the subject’s alpha wave frequency (~10 flickers/second), or about 10% out of sync. This was called “entrainment.”
Then they showed one of two types of swirly dot images for 1/5th of a second, at the same pace, either synced to the peak or trough of the subjects’ alpha wave.
The subjects did best at telling apart the swirly dot images if they’d gotten entrained in sync with their alpha waves AND they got shown the swirly dot images at the trough of their alpha waves.
So this isn’t like “strobe yourself for 1.5 s and learn ANYTHING 3x faster!!!”
It’s “there’s this very specific type of visual recognition task that we can make you better at by carefully training you with brain scanners and pacing the task accordingly.”
I hope it’s clear this summary leaves out a ton of nuance, but I think it does a better job than other summaries I’ve read of representing the limitations of this study’s findings for practical learning purposes.
Doesn’t sound exciting. Habituating people’s attention to the right visual frequency helps them on subsequent frequency specific visual tasks.
Yes, the study flickered a square at the subject’s alpha wave frequency (~10 flickers/second), or about 10% out of sync. This was called “entrainment.”
Then they showed one of two types of swirly dot images for 1/5th of a second, at the same pace, either synced to the peak or trough of the subjects’ alpha wave.
The subjects did best at telling apart the swirly dot images if they’d gotten entrained in sync with their alpha waves AND they got shown the swirly dot images at the trough of their alpha waves.
So this isn’t like “strobe yourself for 1.5 s and learn ANYTHING 3x faster!!!”
It’s “there’s this very specific type of visual recognition task that we can make you better at by carefully training you with brain scanners and pacing the task accordingly.”
I hope it’s clear this summary leaves out a ton of nuance, but I think it does a better job than other summaries I’ve read of representing the limitations of this study’s findings for practical learning purposes.