The Effectiveness of Neurofeedback on Enhancing Cognitive Process Involved in Entrepreneurship Abilities among Primary School Students in District No. 3 Tehran

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Narges Rahmati, University of Tehran; Reza Rostami, University of Tehran; Mohammad Reza Zali, University of Tehran; Stephen Nowicki Jr., Emory University; Jamilah Zarei, University of Tehran
• Language: English
• Date: 2014-10
• Publisher: Tehran University of Medical Sciences
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2014 Iranian Neuroscience Society
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://bcn.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_id=423&sid=1&slc_lang=en
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Basic and Clinical Neuroscience
• ISSN: 2008-126X
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 277
• End Page: 284
• Keywords: Entrepreneurship abilities; Neurofeedback; Locus of control; Risk-taking; Creativity
• Research Categories: Biology, Neuroscience; Psychology, Cognitive; Psychology, Clinical

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study is to investigate the entrepreneurial traits of school children in the city of Tehran. Methods: For this purpose, 48 students were selected with an average IQ between 90 and 119. Ranging from 7th to 12th grades, all the subjects were assessed using Nowicki-Strickland’s Locus of Control Scale (N-SLCS), Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT), and Hyperkinetic Syndrome Assessment Method (HKSD). The obtained results were then organized and categorized into three groups. One of the groups was randomly chosen as experimental and the other as the control group and the last play group. In this empirical study, the students received Sensory Motor Rhythm (SMR) and Beta neurofeedback for 20 sessions. The play group was assigned to play mind games for 20 sessions. At the same time, the control group received no experiments. After the end of the experiments, all the students in three groups were reassessed by Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking, Hyperkinetic Syndrome Assessment Method, and Nowicki-Strickland’s Locus of Control Scale. Results: The results from MANOVA showed that the neurofeedback group had demonstrated a meaningful change in creativity and locus of control while the adaptability of risk-taking was on a meaningful level for the experimental group. The results also indicate an improvement in creativity for the neurofeedback group in comparison with the play group on a 0.02 meaningful level. Similarly, the results suggest an improvement in creativity for the neurofeedback group on a 0.000 meaningful level in comparison with the control group. This is while the play group and the control group do not show any meaningful difference. The results also show an improvement in the internal locus of control for the neurofeedback group in comparison with the play group on a 0.032 meaningful level; while, it is meaningful on a 0.01 level for the neurofeedback group in comparison with the control group. Discussion: The findings for the play group and control group do not show any meaningful difference. The paper concludes that neurofeedback training can be used for increasing the level of entrepreneurial traits in students.