The Effect of EarthPulse on Learning of Declarative Knowledge
Open Access
- Author:
- McKinney, Heather E
- Graduate Program:
- Instructional Systems
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- October 05, 2006
- Committee Members:
- Kyle Leonard Peck, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Catherine Augustine, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Wesley Edward Donahue, Committee Member
Peggy Noel Van Meter, Committee Member
Edgar Paul Yoder, Committee Member - Keywords:
- instructional environment
psychology
organizational psychology
insomnia
biomedical
biofeedback
neurofeedback
schumann resonance
electromagnetic fields
pulsed electromagnetic fields
alternative health
integrative medicine
mental health
alternative medicine
sleep
health
brainwaves
brainwave entrainment
information processing
earthpulse
learning
declarative knowledge
cognitive psychology
organizational behavior
organization development
organizational development
industrial psychology
developmental psychology
educational psychology
materials science
medicine
neuroscience
instructional design - Abstract:
- The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of EarthPulse, a brainwave entrainment and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) device, on learning of declarative knowledge. Currently, research pertaining to PEMF explores physiological and psychological effects. A research gap exists in the potential effects of PEMF on cognition, information processing and learning. The study explored whether a relationship existed between receiving a thirty minute EarthPulse treatment on the “Entrain Up” setting and learning of declarative knowledge; whether the relationship remained over time; whether EarthPulse had an effect on sleep; and whether EarthPulse had an effect on attrition. Ninety-eight, randomly assigned, undergraduate students participated in this double-blind, experimental design study, of which 87 remained after attrition. After receiving a thirty minute EarthPulse or placebo treatment, experimental and control groups read identical passages and completed identical instruments to test learning and retention of declarative knowledge. Participants completed the same test in two intervals: an immediate (learning) and delayed (retention) posttest. Assumptions for normality and reliability were met. One-way ANOVA revealed no statistically significant effects on learning or retention at the 0.05 level. However, Chi square analysis revealed those who received the EarthPulse treatment were significantly less likely to fall asleep than those who received the control treatment (p=0.022) and very closely approached significance for attrition (p=0.051).