Autoregulation in resistance training : addressing the inconsistencies

Autoregulation is a process that is used to manipulate training based primarily on the measurement of an individual's performance or their perceived capability to perform. Despite being established as a training framework since the 1940s, there has been limited systematic research investigating its broad utility. Instead, researchers have focused on disparate practices that can be considered specific examples of the broader autoregulation training framework. A primary limitation of previous research includes inconsistent use of key terminology (e.g., adaptation, readiness, fatigue, and response) and associated ambiguity of how to implement different autoregulation strategies. Crucially, this ambiguity in terminology and failure to provide a holistic overview of autoregulation limits the synthesis of existing research findings and their dissemination to practitioners working in both performance and health contexts. Therefore, the purpose of the current review was threefold: first, we provide a broad overview of various autoregulation strategies and their development in both research and practice whilst highlighting the inconsistencies in definitions and terminology that currently exist. Second, we present an overarching conceptual framework that can be used to generate operational definitions and contextualise autoregulation within broader training theory. Finally, we show how previous definitions of autoregulation fit within the proposed framework and provide specific examples of how common practices may be viewed, highlighting their individual subtleties

Cognitive enhancement by self-regulation of endogenous oscillations with neurofeedback

In the last years, innovations in technology and methodology, as well as increased knowledge about cortical oscillations have significantly impacted the advancement of new neurofeedback approaches. As such, sham-controlled studies, showing evidence for enhanced performance of cognition after self-regulation of brain activity, have been published. Effects have been demonstrated regarding working memory (Hsueh et al. 2016), executive functions (Enriquez-Geppert et al. 2014), binding processes (Keizer et al. 2010 a,b), and memory (Guez et al. 2014), as well as real-life performance (Ros et al. 2009). In this chapter, we first present the rationale behind neurofeedback based on electroencephalography (EEG) and then list examples of recent studies demonstrating effects on cognition and everyday life performance. Subsequentially, the conceptualization of the self-regulation of brain activity, as well as neuroplastic effects evoked by neurofeedback follow. As a next step, issues regarding the specificity and efficacy of neurofeedback are discussed. Finally, we conclude with a summary and an outlook of EEG neurofeedback approaches