Presenter(s): Zora Rose
Faculty Mentor(s): Mike Posner & Dasa Zeithamova
Poster 2
Session: Sciences
The theta frequency (4-8hz) has been implicated with states of restful awareness (Posner, Fan, McCandliss, and Raz 2002). Increased frontal theta waves as measured by EEG have been achieved through meditation training in several studies (Tang et al, 2010; 2012). Studies of the effects of mediation also show increased executive control using measures involving the resolution of conflict (Cavanagh and Frank, 2014). Additionally, some research suggests that the use of auditory theta stimulation may improve overall cognition (Ortiz, Martínez, Fernández, Maestu, et al 2008). Other studies demonstrate a link shared between auditory binaural beat stimulation and improved overall mood (Padmanabhan, Hildreth, Laws, 2005). The aim of this current study is to determine if auditory stimulation utilizing the theta frequency may improve mood, increase working memory capacity and improve executive attention scores as measured by the attention network test, similar to the effects produced by meditators experiencing self- induced states of “restful alertness”.