ArticleJournal of sports sciences2014
Feasibility of eyes open alpha power training for mental enhancement in elite gymnasts.
Article in Journal of sports sciences, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- Music in the loop: a systematic review of current neurofeedback methodologies using music.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2025Pooled it
- Musical Neurofeedback Advancements, Feedback Modalities, and Applications: A Systematic Review.Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback · 2024Pooled it
- Does Elite Sport Degrade Sleep Quality? A Systematic Review.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2017Pooled it
- A scoping review of music-based digital therapeutics for stress, anxiety, and depression.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2026Review
- EEG-Based Neurofeedback in Athletes and Non-Athletes: A Scoping Review of Outcomes and Methodologies.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Sleep interventions in elite sport - a systematic review.South African journal of sports medicine · 2025Review
- Alpha Neurofeedback Training in Elite Soccer Players Trained in Groups.Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback · 2024Article
- Neurofeedback Training Protocols in Sports: A Systematic Review of Recent Advances in Performance, Anxiety, and Emotional Regulation.Brain sciences · 2024Review
- Session Frequency Matters in Neurofeedback Training of Athletes.Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback · 2021Article
- The moderating effect of heart rate variability on the relationship between alpha asymmetry and depressive symptoms.Heliyon · 2019Article
- Eyes-Closed Resting EEG Predicts the Learning of Alpha Down-Regulation in Neurofeedback Training.Frontiers in psychology · 2018Article
- Increasing Performance of Professional Soccer Players and Elite Track and Field Athletes with Peak Performance Training and Biofeedback: A Pilot Study.Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback · 2016Article
- Brain Oscillations in Sport: Toward EEG Biomarkers of Performance.Frontiers in psychology · 2016Review
- Differential Training Facilitates Early Consolidation in Motor Learning.Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience · 2016Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
This study focuses on a novel, easy to use and instruction-less method for mental training in athletes. Previous findings suggest that particular mental capacities are needed for achieving peak performance; including attentional control, focus, relaxation and positive affect. Electroencephalography (EEG) alpha brain activity has been associated with neural inhibition during processes of selective attention, for improving efficiency in information processing. Here we hypothesised that eyes open alpha power training by music teaches athletes to (1) learn to self-regulate their brain activity, and (2) learn to increase their baseline alpha power, herewith improving mental capacities such as focusing the allocation of attention. The study was double-blind and placebo-controlled. Twelve elite gymnasts were either given eyes open alpha power training or random beta power training (controls). Results indicate small improvements in sleep quality, mental and physical shape. In our first attempt at getting a grip on mental capacities in athletes, we think this novel training method can be promising. Because gymnastics is one of the most mentally demanding sports, we value even small benefits for the athlete and consider them indicative for future research.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.