Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Brain Oscillations and Athletic Performance

  • Chapter
Sports Performance

Abstract

Large populations of synchronously active cortical neurons produce oscillations which can be measured on the surface of the scalp using electroencephalography (EEG). These cortical oscillations can be analysed in the frequency domain. Power in different frequency bands (e.g. delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma) has been shown to correlate with specific perceptual, sensorimotor or cognitive processes. Therefore, cortical oscillations can be used to better understand how the cortex is involved during accomplishment of different tasks. This chapter discusses research addressing the relationship between cortical oscillations and sport performance in ecologically valid settings (Sect. 3.1). Since balance ability has been suggested to play a crucial role for performance in various sports, this chapter also reviews studies describing brain activity during balance control (Sect. 3.2). For a more complete analysis, experiments where EEG neurofeedback training was applied to enhance sport performance will also be taken into consideration (Sect. 3.3). Finally, some concluding remarks and suggestions for future research will be outlined (Sect. 3.4).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adkin AL, Quant S, Maki BE, McIlroy WE (2006) Cortical responses associated with predictable and unpredictable compensatory balance reactions. Exp Brain Res 172:85–93

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Andreassi JL (2007) Psychophysiology: human behavior and physiological response, 5th edn. Lawrence Erlbaum, Mahwah

    Google Scholar 

  • Arns M, Kleinnijenhuis M, Fallahpour K, Breteler R (2008) Golf performance enhancement and real-life neurofeedback training using personalized event-locked EEG profiles. J Neurother 11:11–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arns M, de Ridder S, Strehl U, Breteler M, Coenen A (2009) Efficacy of neurofeedback treatment in ADHD: the effects on inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity: a meta-analysis. Clin EEG Neurosci 40:180–189

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asada H, Fukuda Y, Tsunoda S, Yamaguchi M, Tonoike M (1999) Frontal midline theta rhythms reflect alternative activation of prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex in humans. Neurosci Lett 274:29–32

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Babiloni C, Del Percio C, Iacoboni M, Infarinato F, Lizio R, Marzano N et al (2007) Golf putt outcomes are predicted by sensorimotor cerebral EEG rhythms. J Physiol 586:131–139

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ball KA, Best RJ, Wrigley TV (2003) Inter- and intra-individual analysis in elite sport: pistol shooting. J Appl Biomech 19:28–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister J, Reinecke K, Liesen H, Weiss M (2008) Cortical activity of skilled performance in a complex sports related motor task. Eur J Appl Physiol 104:625–631

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bolton DAE, Williams L, Staines W, McIlroy WE (2012) Contribution of primary motor cortex to compensatory balance reactions. BMC Neurosci 13:102

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooke A (2013) Readying the head and steadying the heart: a review of cortical and cardiac studies of preparation for action in sport. Int Rev Sport Exerc Psychol 6:122–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Del Percio C, Babiloni C, Bertollo M, Marzano N, Iacoboni M, Infarinato F et al (2009) Visuo-attentional and sensorimotor alpha rhythms are related to visuo-motor performance in athletes. Hum Brain Mapp 30:3527–3540

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Doppelmayr M, Weber E (2011) Effects of SMR and theta/beta neurofeedback on reaction times, spatial abilities, and creativity. J Neurother 15:115–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doppelmayr M, Finkenzeller T, Sauseng P (2008) Frontal midline theta in the pre-shot phase of rifle shooting: differences between experts and novices. Neuropsychologia 46:1463–1467

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fitts PM, Posner MI (1967) Human performance, Basic concepts in psychology series. Psychology: a natural science. Brooks/Cole Pub. Co, Belmont

    Google Scholar 

  • Gehring WJ, Knight RT (2000) Prefrontal – cingulate interactions in action monitoring. Nat Neurosci 3:516–520

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gevins A, Smith ME, McEvoy L, Yu D (1997) High-resolution EEG mapping of cortical activation related to working memory: effects of task difficulty, type of processing, and practice. Cereb Cortex 7:374–385

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gruzelier JH (2013a) EEG-neurofeedback for optimising performance. II: creativity, the performing arts and ecological validity. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 44:142–158

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gruzelier JH (2013b) EEG-neurofeedback for optimising performance. I: a review of cognitive and affective outcome in healthy participants. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 44:124–141

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hatfield BD, Hillman C (2001) The psychophysiology of sport: a mechanistic understanding of the psychology of superior performance. In: Singer RN (ed) Handbook of sport psychology, John Wiley. New York, NY. pp 362–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatfield BD, Landers DM (1987) Psychophysiology in exercise and sport research: an overview. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 15:351–387

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hatfield BD, Haufler AJ, Hung T, Spalding TW (2004) Electroencephalographic studies of skilled psychomotor performance. J Clin Neurophysiol 21:144–156

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haufler AJ, Spalding TW, Santa Maria DL, Hatfield BD (2000) Neuro-cognitive activity during a self-paced visuospatial task: comparative EEG profiles in marksmen and novice shooters. Biol Psychol 53:131–160

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hrysomallis C (2011) Balance ability and athletic performance. Sports Med 41:221–232

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hummel F, Andres F, Altenmüller E, Dichgans J, Gerloff C (2002) Inhibitory control of acquired motor programmes in the human brain. Brain 125:404–420

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs JV, Horak FB (2007) Cortical control of postural responses. J Neural Transm 114:1339–1348

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs JV, Fujiwara K, Tomita H, Furune N, Kunita K, Horak FB (2008) Changes in the activity of the cerebral cortex relate to postural response modification when warned of a perturbation. Clin Neurophysiol 119:1431–1442

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kao S, Huang C, Hung T (2013) Frontal midline theta is a specific indicator of optimal attentional engagement during skilled putting performance. J Sport Exerc Psychol 35:470–478

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kerick SE, Douglass LW, Hatfield BD (2004) Cerebral cortical adaptations associated with visuomotor practice. Med Sci Sports Exerc 36:118–129

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klimesch W (2012) Alpha-band oscillations, attention, and controlled access to stored information. Trends Cogn Sci 16:606–617

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krigolson OE, Holroyd CB (2007) Predictive information and error processing: the role of medial-frontal cortex during motor control. Psychophysiology 44:586–595

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Landers DM, Petruzzello SJ, Salazar W, Crews DJ, Kubitz KA, Gannon TL et al (1991) The influence of electrocortical biofeedback on performance in pre-elite archers. Med Sci Sports Exerc 23:123–129

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Landers DM, Han M, Salazar W, Petruzzello SJ, Kubitz KA, Gannon TL (1994) Effects of learning on electroencephalographic and electrocardiographic patterns in novice archers. Int J Sport Psychol 25:313–330

    Google Scholar 

  • Mochizuki G, Sibley K, Esposito J, Camilleri J, McIlroy W (2008) Cortical responses associated with the preparation and reaction to full-body perturbations to upright stability. Clin Neurophysiol 119:1626–1637

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muangjaroen P, Wongsawat Y (2012) Real-time index for predicting successful golf putting motion using multichannel EEG. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2012:4796–4799. doi:10.1109/EMBC.2012.634703

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muehlbauer T, Roth R, Bopp M, Granacher U (2012) An exercise sequence for progression in balance training. J Strength Cond Res 26:568–574

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muthukumaraswamy SD (2010) Functional properties of human primary motor cortex gamma oscillations. J Neurophysiol 104:2873–2885

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nakashima K, Sato H (1993) Relationship between frontal midline theta activity in EEG and concentration. J Hum Ergol (Tokyo) 22:63–67

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakata H, Yoshie M, Miura A, Kudo K (2010) Characteristics of the athletes’ brain: evidence from neurophysiology and neuroimaging. Brain Res Rev 62:197–211

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Onton J, Delorme A, Makeig S (2005) Frontal midline EEG dynamics during working memory. Neuroimage 27:341–356

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Osaka M, Komori M, Morishita M, Osaka N (2007) Neural bases of focusing attention in working memory: an fMRI study based on group differences. Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci 7:130–139

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ouchi Y, Okada H, Yoshikawa E, Nobezawa S, Futatsubashi M (1999) Brain activation during maintenance of standing postures in humans. Brain 122(Pt 2):329–338

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perfetti B, Moisello C, Landsness EC, Kvint S, Lanzafame S, Onofrj M et al (2011) Modulation of gamma and theta spectral amplitude and phase synchronization is associated with the development of visuo-motor learning. J Neurosci 31:14810–14819

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pfurtscheller G, Stancák A, Neuper C (1996) Event-related synchronization (ERS) in the alpha band–an electrophysiological correlate of cortical idling: a review. Int J Psychophysiol 24:39–46

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reeves WH (1983) Right cerebral hemispheric function: behavioral correlates. Int J Neurosci 18:227–230

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ros T, Moseley MJ, Bloom PA, Benjamin L, Parkinson LA, Gruzelier JH (2009) Optimizing microsurgical skills with EEG neurofeedback. BMC Neurosci 10:87

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rostami R, Sadeghi H, Karami KA, Abadi MN, Salamati P (2012) The effects of neurofeedback on the improvement of rifle shooters’ performance. J Neurother 16:264–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salazar W, Landers DM, Petruzzello SJ, Han M, Crews DJ, Kubitz KA (1990) Hemispheric asymmetry, cardiac response, and performance in elite archers. Res Q Exerc Sport 61:351–359

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sauseng P, Klimesch W, Gerloff C, Hummel F (2009) Spontaneous locally restricted EEG alpha activity determines cortical excitability in the motor cortex. Neuropsychologia 47:284–288

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schabus M, Heib DP, Lechinger J, Griessenberger H, Klimesch W, Pawlizki A et al (2013) Enhancing sleep quality and memory in insomnia using instrumental sensorimotor rhythm conditioning. Biol Psychol 95:126–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Slobounov S, Hallett M, Stanhope S, Shibasaki H (2005) Role of cerebral cortex in human postural control: an EEG study. Clin Neurophysiol 116:315–323

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slobounov S, Wu T, Hallett M (2006) Neural basis subserving the detection of postural instability: an fMRI study. Motor Control 10:69–89

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slobounov S, Hallett M, Cao C, Newell K (2008) Modulation of cortical activity as a result of voluntary postural sway direction: an EEG study. Neurosci Lett 442:309–313

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slobounov S, Cao C, Jaiswal N, Newell KM (2009) Neural basis of postural instability identified by VTC and EEG. Exp Brain Res 199:1–16

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slobounov SM, Teel E, Newell KM (2013) Modulation of cortical activity in response to visually induced postural perturbation: combined VR and EEG study. Neurosci Lett 547:6–9

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Szurhaj W, Bourriez J, Kahane P, Chauvel P, Mauguière F, Derambure P (2005) Intracerebral study of gamma rhythm reactivity in the sensorimotor cortex. Eur J Neurosci 21:1223–1235

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tan G, Thornby J, Hammond DC, Strehl U, Canady B, Arnemann K et al (2009) Meta-analysis of EEG biofeedback in treating epilepsy. Clin EEG Neurosci 40:173–179

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taube W (2006) Direct corticospinal pathways contribute to neuromuscular control of perturbed stance. J Appl Physiol 101:420–429

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zech A, Hübscher M, Vogt L, Banzer W, Hänsel F, Pfeifer K (2010) Balance training for neuromuscular control and performance enhancement: a systematic review. J Athl Train 45:392–403

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zemková E (2013) Sport-specific balance. Sports Med 44(5):579–590

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    Andreas Mierau, Thorben Hülsdünker & Heiko K. Strüder

Authors
  1. Andreas Mierau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thorben Hülsdünker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Heiko K. Strüder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andreas Mierau .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan

    Kazuyuki Kanosue

  2. Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan

    Tomoyuki Nagami

  3. Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan

    Jun Tsuchiya

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Japan

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mierau, A., Hülsdünker, T., Strüder, H.K. (2015). Brain Oscillations and Athletic Performance. In: Kanosue, K., Nagami, T., Tsuchiya, J. (eds) Sports Performance. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55315-1_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55315-1_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-55314-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-55315-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation