SynthesisExperimental brain research2021
The role of neural efficiency, transient hypofrontality and neural proficiency in optimal performance in self-paced sports: a meta-analytic review.
Synthesis in Experimental brain research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Effects of EEG neurofeedback and training interventions on golf putting performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Pooled it
- The relationship between T7-Fz alpha coherence and peak performance in self-paced sports: a meta-analytical review.Experimental brain research · 2024Pooled it
- The Effect of Neurofeedback on the Reaction Time and Cognitive Performance of Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2022Pooled it
- The Neural Mechanism of Long-Term Motor Training Affecting Athletes' Decision-Making Function: An Activation Likelihood Estimation Meta-Analysis.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2022Pooled it
- Neural Efficiency in Athletes: A Systematic Review.Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience · 2021Pooled it
- Neural activation patterns underlying football decision-making: evidence for the neural proficiency hypothesis.Brain imaging and behavior · 2026Article
- Design and Experimental Investigation of a Multi-Level Heartbeat Sound Feedback-Based Neurofeedback System: Neural Mechanisms.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- The theta paradox-delayed reduction of frontal midline theta following downregulation neurofeedback training.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2026Article
- Explainable machine-learning integration of pre-task and preparatory EEG: revealing complementary predictive information for expert action reliability.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2026Article
- Mapping 50 Years of Sport Psychology-Performance Meta-Analyses: A PRISMA-ScR Scoping Review.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Application of Electroencephalography (EEG) in Combat Sports-Review of Findings, Perspectives, and Limitations.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Article
- EEG theta and alpha oscillations during tactical decision-making: An examination of the neural efficiency hypothesis in volleyball.PloS one · 2025Article
- The effect of targeting and interceptive timing tasks on the brain waves of elite and educated athletes.PloS one · 2025Article
- Amateurs exhibit greater psychomotor efficiency than novices: evidence from EEG during a visuomotor task.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- High Neural Efficiency in Unconscious Perceptual Processing among Table Tennis Athletes: An Event-Related Potential Study.Brain sciences · 2024Article
- Impacts of Kinematic Information on Action Anticipation and the Related Neurophysiological Associations in Volleyball Experts.Brain sciences · 2024Article
- Commit to your putting stroke: exploring the impact of quiet eye duration and neural activity on golf putting performance.Frontiers in psychology · 2024Article
- Effects of self-efficacy on frontal midline theta power and golf putting performance.Frontiers in psychology · 2024Article
- Opposite effects of a time-trial and endurance cycling exercise on the neural efficiency of competitive cyclists.European journal of applied physiology · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
We examined changes in brain rhythms in relation to optimal performance in self-paced sports. Eight studies met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, representing 153 participants and eight different sports. We found that (a) optimal performance is characterised by increased alpha (g = .62, p = .02) and theta (g = .74, p = .002) across the cortex; (b) during optimal performance the frontal lobe is more relaxed (higher alpha; g = 1.06, p = .18) and less busy (lower theta; g = .38, p = .08), in comparison to the other brain lobes; (c) for the same given task, experts' brains are more relaxed (higher alpha, g = .89, p = .34) and less busy (lower theta, g = .91, p = .54) than novices' brains. Theoretically, our findings suggest that neural efficiency, neural proficiency, and transient hypofrontality are likely complementary neural mechanisms that underpin optimal performance. In practice, neurofeedback training should teach athletes how to amplify and suppress their alpha and theta activity across the brain during all movement stages.
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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.