Practice makes efficient: Cortical alpha oscillations are associated with improved golf putting performance
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- Gallicchio_Cooke_Ring_cortical efficiency SEPP
Accepted author manuscript, 1.28 MB, PDF document
- 2017 Practice makes efficient
Final published version, 722 KB, PDF document
Licence: CC BY Show licence
DOI
Practice of a motor skill results in improved performance and decreased movement awareness. The psychomotor efficiency hypothesis proposes that the development of motor expertise through practice is accompanied by physiological refinements whereby irrelevant processes are suppressed and relevant processes are enhanced. The present study employed a test-retest design to evaluate the presence of greater neurophysiological efficiency with practice and mediation analyses to identify the factors accounting for performance improvements, in a golf putting task. Putting performance, movement-specific conscious processing, electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha power and alpha connectivity were measured from 12 right-handed recreational golfers (age: M = 21 years; handicap: M = 23) before and after three practice sessions. As expected, performance improved and conscious processing decreased with training. Mediation analyses revealed that improvements in performance were partly attributable to increased regional gating of alpha power and reduced cross-regional alpha connectivity. However, changes in conscious processing were not associated with performance improvements. Increased efficiency was manifested at the neurophysiological level as selective inhibition and functional isolation of task-irrelevant cortical regions (temporal regions) and concomitant functional activation of task-relevant regions (central regions). These findings provide preliminary evidence for the development of greater psychomotor efficiency with practice in a precision aiming task.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 89-102 |
Journal | Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology |
Early online date | 28 Nov 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2017 |
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