Innovative EEG brainwave monitors for
  • Sports performance, psychology & coaching
  • Neuro feedback, hypnotherapy & cognitive therapies
  • Neuroscience research
  • EEG-based games for neuro feedback therapy, training and entertainment

Areas of Application

Alpha-Active has identified several areas of application for our real-time compact EEG monitor. These fall into 4 main catagories:

  • Sports applications

  • Therapy applications

  • Neuroscience research applications

  • Games applications

    Details about these various application areas are given below.

    The possible uses of the Alpha-Active real-time EEG are many and varied and only some are mentioned here.

    • Sports applications

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    The value of psychological training contributing to success in many types of sport has come to prominence in recent years. There are observable strong correlations between changes in EEG brain wave activity and the degree of focus being produced in high performance sporting action.

    The relaxed but focused state or being 'in the zone' has been the subject of much research but this has mainly been conducted under laboratory conditions. Since the Alpha-Active real-time EEG is robust to user movement and light to wear, in a belt bag, it can be used for training and coaching in the field, during sporting activity.

    The athlete's EEG can be measured in real-time, real-life situations with minimisation of artifact from their movement.

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    Alpha-Active have carried out EEG studies on some highly trained elite athletes, including GB squad members and Olympic development squads. Several different sports were represented and successful results have been obtained using the Alpha-Active EEG system. This has included use in archery by elite archers and by racing drivers in a high tech motor sport simulation system at Silverstone.

    Other applications of EEG could include golf, football, rugby, cricket, cycling, rowing, pistol shooting, darts, snooker, athletics and indeed any sport where aim and/or focus is needed. Also EEG brainwave monitoring can be used during training and coaching, for focus training and in the management of stress or fatigue in sport.

    Images: Alpha-Active EEG sessions

    What does all the data mean?

  • We are working with a range of sporting groups, psychologists, university groups etc., on methods to interpret and apply
  • the sensor data to real world situations.
  • In this connection, we have started a collaboration with the University of Surrey on statistical classifier data analysis
  • techniques for improved data visualisation, analysis, and user & coach feedback. See University of Surrey project.

    Therapy applications

  • Real-time EEG has a role in the monitoring of the state of mind of patients undergoing a variety of therapies,
  • thereby providing the practitioner with a real-time feedback of their state of mind and the influence of the therapy on that
  • state of mind.
  • EEG is a useful tool for practitioners in the treatment of:
  • Addiction, Migraine, Depression, Sleep Disorders, Eating Disorders, Anxiety,
  • Learning Disabilities, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Insomnia,
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD/ADD), Tourette's Syndrome, etc.

    EEG neuro-feedback provides a valuable tool for both the therapist and the patient. The patient assumes a much more active and involved role in the process, with the therapist taking on more of the role of educator and coach. NLP or Neuro-linguistic programming is one example of how the brain codes learning and experience. This can provide skills for development and success in any area of life, including in business, education, training, performing arts, public speaking etc. The treatment is capable of being time monitored and statistically followed for each patient, which is important for the requirements of managed care organisations.

    Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness and can be a powerful agent in the treatment of many psychosomatic disorders, such as agoraphobia, anxiety states and phobias. The EEG has been used routinely in a pain relief clinic for monitoring patients. It is invaluable to be able to monitor the patients' state of mind to ensure that therapy is effective.

    Neuroscience research

    Many universities and institutions carry out research in the field of neuroscience using EEG. The advantages of using the Alpha-Active EEG are that, in context- and ecology-specific scientific research (studies in the normal environment of the subject), the user can wear the EEG system and continue with their normal activities.

    Such research fields relate to the understanding, treatment, and prevention of neurobehavioral disorders including, but not limited to, head injury, epilepsy, pain syndromes, movement disorders, cerebrovascular disorders, metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders (including age-related), thought disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality and substance dependence disorders, chronic stress, Alzheimers, schizophrenia, and many other problems and illnesses.

    The EEG may also be used for studies of: cognitive processes; decision making; driver alertness; perception of advertising (neuroeconomics and neuromarketing); multi-sensory perception, etc.

    Games applications

    Research shows that when people are producing high levels of alpha brainwaves, their concentration and receptiveness to learning improves. By developing EEG games controlled by the user's brainwaves directly, users can train themselves to reproduce this mind state when they wish.

    EEG driven games can be helpful for dynamic mental stress testing, aiding learning, in ADHD, brain training and, of course, simply for entertainment and fun.

    Currently we are involved in various collaborations in this field - see our NEWS page


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