Abstract
Electroencephalographic (EEG)-neurofeedback training is a non-invasive approach for modifying brain activity. Promising
evidence endorses EEG-neurofeedback as an intervention to enhance performance in tasks requiring fine motor control (e.g.
golf, archery, shooting). However, no study has examined EEG-neurofeedback interventions for whole-body endurance
performance. Our experiment addresses this gap in the literature. We adopted a randomised single-blind, placebo-controlled
parallel design. Forty subjects were recruited and randomly allocated to three groups (increase relative left cortical activity, NFL,
N = 13, increase relative right, NFR, N = 13 and passive control, CON, N = 14). They performed a depleting cognitive task followed
by either EEG-neurofeedback training (NFL and NFR), consisting of 6 × 2 min sessions, or time matched-videos of the
neurofeedback display (CON). Next, they performed a time to exhaustion test on a cycle-ergometer (TTE). Measures of mood
and state self-control were obtained at baseline and after each task. Results confirmed that our brief EEG-neurofeedback
intervention modified brain activity in the expected way. Importantly, the NFL group performed for over 30 % longer than the other
groups in the TTE (mean ± S.E. NLF = 1382 ± 252, NFR = 878 ± 167, CON = 963 ± 117 sec, contrast tests p = .05). There were
no group-differences in mood, self-control or rate of perceived exertion measured during the TTE, suggesting that the mechanism
underlying neurofeedback benefits was a neurophysiological shift towards approach motivation. Our results show that EEGneurofeedback
can be used to modulate frontal hemispheric asymmetry, and greater relative left frontal activity may enhance
endurance performance.
evidence endorses EEG-neurofeedback as an intervention to enhance performance in tasks requiring fine motor control (e.g.
golf, archery, shooting). However, no study has examined EEG-neurofeedback interventions for whole-body endurance
performance. Our experiment addresses this gap in the literature. We adopted a randomised single-blind, placebo-controlled
parallel design. Forty subjects were recruited and randomly allocated to three groups (increase relative left cortical activity, NFL,
N = 13, increase relative right, NFR, N = 13 and passive control, CON, N = 14). They performed a depleting cognitive task followed
by either EEG-neurofeedback training (NFL and NFR), consisting of 6 × 2 min sessions, or time matched-videos of the
neurofeedback display (CON). Next, they performed a time to exhaustion test on a cycle-ergometer (TTE). Measures of mood
and state self-control were obtained at baseline and after each task. Results confirmed that our brief EEG-neurofeedback
intervention modified brain activity in the expected way. Importantly, the NFL group performed for over 30 % longer than the other
groups in the TTE (mean ± S.E. NLF = 1382 ± 252, NFR = 878 ± 167, CON = 963 ± 117 sec, contrast tests p = .05). There were
no group-differences in mood, self-control or rate of perceived exertion measured during the TTE, suggesting that the mechanism
underlying neurofeedback benefits was a neurophysiological shift towards approach motivation. Our results show that EEGneurofeedback
can be used to modulate frontal hemispheric asymmetry, and greater relative left frontal activity may enhance
endurance performance.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2019 |
| Event | 15th European Congress of Sport & Exercise Psychology - Munster, Germany Duration: 15 Jul 2019 → … |
Conference
| Conference | 15th European Congress of Sport & Exercise Psychology |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | FEPSAC |
| Country/Territory | Germany |
| City | Munster |
| Period | 15/07/19 → … |