Proficient brain activity in superior golf putting performance: An insight from the EEG and psychomotor efficiency
Ming-Yang Cheng, Kuo-Pin Wang, Dirk Koester, Tsung-Min Hung, & Thomas Schack
Psychomotor efficiency has been linked to processing efficiency during sports performance. Proficient cortical activity in the sensorimotor area has been related to the level of psychomotor efficiency during superior action execution. This study proposes sensorimotor rhythm (SMR), 12–15 Hz of the electroencephalogram (EEG) in the sensorimotor area, may be used to investigate psychomotor efficiency in golf putting performance. Method: Thirty-six pre-elite golfers in Taiwan were recruited to perform 40 putts while EEG and putting accuracy were recorded. Results: The data exhibit the best putting performance is associated with higher SMR power during the last second before action initiation compared to the worst putting performance. No other changes were observed on the neighbouring frequency bands, such as theta and low beta bands in both performances, indicating SMR was the prominent component which separated the best putting performance from the worst one.
Conclusions: This finding suggests that reduced interference from sensorimotor processing, as reflected by higher SMR power, may lead to better psychomotor efficiency during the putting preparation. We conclude that SMR may be a promising component to understand psychomotor efficiency underlying putting performance.
Future studies are recommended to evaluate the beneficial effects of SMR in sports performance via neurofeedback training to develop an efficient and effective protocol based on SMR activity.
Keywords: Psychomotor efficiency, EEG, putting performance, neurofeedback, cortical activation, sensorimotor rhythm
