Analysing the Effect of Motion Technology on EEG

and its Effect on Students Concentration and

Focus
N. Kimpol, A. Mohamed, N. Buniyamin, Z. Murat
Faculty of Electrical Engineering
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
aisah614@salam.uitm.edu.my

AbstractThis paper presents the findings of an investigation
of the effect of motion technology in relation to academic
performance, focusing on the improvement of a students ability
to study. Twenty two samples, that is, students from the Faculty
of Electrical Engineering, University Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
participated in this investigation. The students
Electroencephalography signals (EEG) were recorded before and
after a series of motion treatment. Five sessions of treatments
were implemented throughout a period of three months starting
from the beginning of a studied semester and ending at the end of
the same semester. Each student was then interviewed to
validate the findings obtained from the analysis of the EEG data.
It was found that, in general the motion treatment resulted in
significant improvement in terms of students concentration and
focus in their studies.
KeywordsEEG (Electroencephalogram), Great Point Average
(GPA), motion technology, Brainwaves
I. Introduction
Brainwaves are the rhythm of the brain. They are electrical
signals or patterns generated by brain cells (neurons) and other
brain structures. When a large number of neurons beat
together in synchrony, they create a strong rhythm or pattern
called wave signal that can be detected on the scalp surface by
electrical monitoring equipment (EEG) [1-5].
A. Electroencephalogram (EEG).
Electroencephalography is a study of the electrical signal
of the brain. The material used to measure this signal is known
as electroencephalograph, and the resulting traces are known
as electroencephalogram (EEG) which is widely called
brainwaves [1,4, 6-9]. The electroencephalograph measures
brainwaves of different frequencies within the brain [2].
Electrodes are placed on specific sites on the scalp to detect
and record the electrical impulses within the brain. The peak-
to-peak amplitude of the potential that can be picked up from
the scalp is normally in the range of 1-100Vp-p [3]. EEG can
be used to detect and localize brain lesions, assist in epilepsys
study, sleep pattern and diagnose brain disorder [10].The
signal from EEG is usually described in terms of frequency
band that range from the most active to the least active; beta
(), alpha (), theta () and delta () as shown in Table 1 [1].
TABLE I. BRAIN STATE FOLLOWED BY THE RANGE OF
FREQUENCY DIFFERENCE
Frequency
[Hz]
Meaning
Beta 15-30 A person is awake and alert.
Alpha 9-15 A person is awake and truly relaxed. It is also
associated with relaxed concentration and fast
learning.
Theta 5-9 A person is relax and asleep. It brings forward
heightened receptivity, flashes of dreamlike imagery
and long-forgotten memories.
Delta 2-5 A person is in deep sleep. Waves are large and slow.

B. Motion Technology
Motion Technology system is an experimental method that
is designed to relax the physical body and synchronize the
electrical activity of the brain through horizontal motion
therapy. It is a valuable tool to stimulate, optimize and
enhance the performance of key centers of brain through slow
rhythmic rotation [11]. The rhythmic 360 rotation while a
person is lying comfortably on a bed generates a pleasant
comfortably centrifugal force, which causes ions within the
person own bio-energy field to become aligned above the base
of the spine. The electrolyte components of the water-based
cerebrospinal fluid are capable of piezoelectric activity.
Accordingly, mechanical motion action upon this fluid creates
pressure, and therefore generates piezoelectric energy. The
result is that mechanically induced centrifugal motion
achieves electrical invigoration of the spinal fluid. In addition,
lying flat horizontally changes the distribution of gravity,
allowing the natural wave action movement of the
cerebrospinal fluid to increase, naturally generating
piezoelectric charge within this brain-stimulating fluid [12].
During a treatment, sample will rest on the rotation bed. The
bed will be rotated clockwise and counterclockwise at a speed
of 3.5 rotations per minute (RPM). A typical session will
normally last for 30 to 45 minutes [11]. During this process,
movement of the ions (present in any room) established
charged electromagnetic field of opposite polarity, generating
the necessary electromagnetic charges. The charges is
transmitted in pulses to the mid-brain, which controls emotion,
mood and information processing and coordination of left and
right brain functions. The effectiveness of motion technology
includes improvement in concentration, relaxation, quality of
sleep, stress reduction and enhances overall performance of
individual and brain hemispheric synchronization [12]. Fig. 1
shows a student undergoing Motion Technology treatment on
the table /bed that is rotating.


Fig. 1. A student undergoing Motion Technology treatment
C. Concentration in Studies
Concentration is an essential mental skill for optimal
performance. Concentration can be defined as focusing
attention on one thing. Concentration or selective focus of
attention can vary in intensity. The more complete the focus of
attention, the greater the level of concentration. When one is
trying to concentrate or focused, paying attention, waves of
electricity called alpha rhythm is given out by ones brain at
frequency of 9-15 Hz [1, 6, 7].
D. Motion Technology and its effect on humans
The hypothesis is that Motion Technology treatment could
increase university students concentration and focus which
will subsequently contribute to the improvement of academic
results.
II. Research Methodology
A. Data Collection
Twenty two (22) samples underwent 5 sessions of
treatment. The EEG signal of each sample was recorded
before and after treatment using EEG equipment called the
Wave Rider with software Wave Ware. The signal is
measured by placing electrodes at both ear lobes and on the
forehead as shown in Fig. 2 [11].
The brainwave signal can be seen on the computer
showing a bar graph of the amplitude (Vp-p) and the
frequency (Hz) as shown in Fig. 3. The value of the signal in
volts can be measured by moving a vertical reference line.
This is done using Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 and these data is
analyzed using statistical tools, SPSS.
Fig. 2. EEG Data Acquisition Procedure [11]












Fig. 3. A Sample of the captured brainwave
B. Data Analysis
In the first session, samples were required to fill up forms
stating their previous semesters GPA results, level of stress
and sleep quality. These are the parameters taken before and
after the treatment that are used as reference. They are
required to undergo five (5) sessions of treatments before they
sit for their final examinations. The time frame between
treatments is one to two weeks and the total treatment is not
more than three months. Their GPAs were taken in the next
semester to see whether their results improve. The analysis of
the data concentrates on the correlation between left and right
brain for alpha state (9-15 Hz) [13]. Alpha state is associated
with relaxed concentration and fast learning [1, 3].
III. Results and Discussion
The analysis is divided into two parts; namely questionnaire
analysis and brain signal measurements analysis. There are
five sessions in every treatment.
A. Part 1- Analysis of Data from Questionnaire
Figure 4 is analysis from data obtained from the
questionnaires. Figure 4 shows the the quality of sleep for the
22 samples before and after the motion treatment. Before the
treatment, 14% of the samples have very good quality of
sleep, 50% have good quality of sleep, while 27% have bad
quality of sleep. Unfortunately, 9% could not justify their
quality of sleep. After the treatment, as depicted 18% of the
samples have very good quality of sleep, 55% have good
quality of sleep, followed by 18% have bad quality of sleep.
Furthermore, it was observed that samples that experiences
good quality of sleep have increased from 64% to 73%.
Subsequently, samples with bad quality of sleep were reduced
from 27% to 18%. Thus, it can be concluded that motion
treatment represents a significant improvement in the quality
of sleep by as much as 9%. This treatment can be associated
with relaxed concentration and fast learning [11].
Dont know Bad good Very good
%

(
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e
)
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
BEFORE
AFTER
9
18
55
18
9
27
50
14

Fig. 4. Quality of sleep
Figure 5 shows the stress level of the 22 samples before
and after treatment. As shown, before treatment, 32% of the
samples have lower stress level in their studies while 27%
have average stress level followed by 23% have high stress
level and subsequently 18% of samples do not know their
stress level. However, after the treatment 41% of samples have
lower stress level, followed by 23% with average stress level
while 18% have high stress level and 18% do not know their
stress level. In analyzing the samples stress level in studies
after and before treatment, it was observed that a 9% increase
with lower stress level while a decrease of 5% with higher
stress level followed by 4% decrease on average stress level. It
was observed that most of the samples experience significant
improvements in their stress levels; their stress level decreased
after completing 5 sessions of treatments. Thus, as a
conclusion when the stress level is reduced, the quality of
sleep will increased and subsequently resulting in better
concentration and focus in studies for the students. This
treatment indicates that samples are truly relaxed.
Figure 6 shows that 13 samples improved their GPA after
undergoing 5 sessions of treatment while 9 samples have no
improvement in their GPAs. Thus, this shows that 59% of
samples have improved in their examinations results after
undergoing motion treatment, while 41% of samples have not
improved in their examinations results. As a conclusion, it
seemed that this treatment to a certain extent is effective to
students to improve their concentration in studies and perform
well in their examinations.
None Lower Average Higher
%

(
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e
)
50
40
30
20
10
BEFORE
AFTER
18
41
23
18 18
32
27
23

Fig. 5. Stress level
21 19 17 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1
G
P
A
4.50
4.00
3.50
3.00
2.50
2.00
BEFORE
AFTER

Fig. 6. GPA before and after treatment
B. Part 11- Analysis of EEG Data
Figure 7 and Figure 8 show the alpha state value for left and
right side of the 22 samples before and after first treatment. 11
samples have increased in both alpha left and right
brainwaves. This result is compared to the finding after 5
sessions of treatments as shown in Figure 9 and Figure 10. 17
samples have increment in alpha left while 14 for alpha right.
Furthermore, after combining both left and right alpha, it was
observed that 66% of samples show significant increment in
the alpha state. Thus, it can be concluded that motion
treatments have increase the alpha brainwaves, which is
related to higher level of attentiveness and as a result,
benefited students in enhancing their levels of concentration.

21 19 17 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1
V
a
l
u
e

(
u
V
p
-
p
)
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
S1 left before
S1 left after

Fig. 7. The alpha value for left side of the first treatment
21 19 17 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1
V
a
l
u
e
(
u
V
p
-
p
)
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
S1 right before
S1 right after

Fig. 8. The alpha value for the right side of the first treatment
21 19 17 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1
V
a
l
u
e
(
u
V
p
-
p
)
14.00
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
S5 left before
S5 left after

Fig. 9. The alpha for left side of the fifth treatment

21 19 17 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1
V
a
l
u
e
(
u
V
p
-
p
)
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
S5 right before
S5 right after

Fig. 10. The alpha value for right side of the fifth treatment
IV. Conclusion

In analyzing the effect of motion treatment on the students
academic potential, based on the questionnaire, there is 9%
increase in quality of sleep, 5% of samples show a decrement
from higher stress level to lower stress level and 59% of
samples show an improvement in their examinations results.
The average of EEG measurement shows 58% of samples
have improvement in alpha state.
As a conclusion, this investigation shows that the motion
treatment improve the alpha state (associated with relaxed
concentration and faster learning) and produced a significant
improvement in students academic potential in terms of
increase quality of sleep, reduce stress level and improve
examinations results. However, the effectiveness of this
treatment is reduced if a long duration is taken from one
treatment to another.
Acknowledgment
The authors gratefully acknowledge and thank University
Teknologi MARA (UiTM) for the Research Intensive Faculty
(RIF) Grant (600-RMI/DANA 5/3/RIF (6/2012))
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