Mr Joseph Leach BA MScIT

Supervisors: John Gruzelier, Tomas Premuzic

How does neurofeedback training affect music performance?

The effect of neurofeedback training on musical performance amongst adult, adolescent and child populations of beginner musicians is to be tested, with a focus on the underlying creative process. In these experiments there are four hypothetical effects on neurological function under performance conditions: reductions in anxiety, optimisation of working memory and attention function, and effects on measures of creativity including divergent/convergent thinking.

The intervention procedure will be one of two EEG-neurofeedback training programmes, during which subjects learn to self-regulate the EEG and enhance or reduce the power of different brain rhythms.

The experimental population is to be recruited from performance artists at Goldsmiths, Trinity College of Music, and secondary/primary schools in the Greenwich/Lewisham/Newham local authorities. This will give three populations engaged in separate studies: adults, adolescents and children. Cogntive performance, and music performance/improvisation will be tested pre/post the different training protocols, with a six month follow-up to examine the durability of the effects.

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