Electroencephalography and Sport; Review and Future Directions
Vietta
E. Wilson, Ph.D.
York University
A chapter from Textbook of Neurofeedback, EEG Biofeedback, qEEG and
Brain Self Regulation by Rob Kall and Joe Kamiya
Purpose of the paper
I. PSYCHOLOGICAL SKILLS NECESSARY FOR
SPORTS PERFORMANCE
A. Traits of Optimum Performers
B. States of Optimum Performance
II. RESEARCH ON EEG IN
SPORT
A. Genetics vs Learning
B. EEG and Sport Performance
Pre-performance
background EEG
evoked response
potentials-ERP
During the event
Pre event
to post event
Imagery of the event
Biofeedback
Cautions and Summary of Section
III.
SPORT CONSIDERATIONS
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
REFERENCES
The purpose of this paper is
to briefly review the psychological traits and states that are believed
necessary for performance in competitive sport. This information may
help guide areas of brain research that could have a large practical
impact upon enhancing performance. The paper will then focus on
reviewing studies which used electroencephalography (EEG) to assess
brain processing in athletes. The final section will present
considerations necessary for conducting sport research followed by some
future directions.
PSYCHOLOGICAL SKILLS NECESSARY FOR
SPORT PERFORMANCE
The need for psychological skills in learning,
maintaining or improving performance in sport, especially under the
stress of competition, has been anecdotal documented in the popular
press and sport literature for decades . More recently research. has
identified some of the psychological predispositions or traits as well
as the mental states necessary for elite performance in sport.
Traits of Optimum Performers
Coaches who have worked
with athletes as well as the "normal' population will generally concur
that athletes are different from non-athletes in more than motor skills.
A controversy surrounded the use of personality testing of athletes in
North America in the 1960's. With the integration of an Interaction
Model (traits X states) and sport specific inventories many of the
previous objections about trait research in sport psychology have been
lessened.
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Sue is a retired professor of York University, where she taught sport psychology, coaching, and self-regulation courses. Her experience includes Biofeedback and Neurofeedback in a medical center, counseling center, businesses, and in schools. For (
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