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Dirik HB, Ertan H. Hemispheric synchronization patterns linked with shooting performance in archers. Behav Brain Res 2024; 460:114813. [PMID: 38110123 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Sustainable attention, effective visual-spatial perception, and motor control skills are considered highly important for achieving superior athletic performance. The aim of the current study was to investigate hemispheric synchronization patterns of brain electrical activation related to successful and unsuccessful shots of archers using electroencephalography (EEG). This study involved 16 elite archers, each shooting 36 arrows. The 10 shots closest to the target's center were successful, while the 10 farthest shots were unsuccessful. The transformed EEG data, obtained through surface Laplacian filtering, were divided into 5 sub-bands (theta, alpha1, alpha2, beta1, beta2) by calculating the alpha peak frequencies. The synchronization values of the electrode pairs were calculated using the Phase Locking Value (PLV) method. To compare the EEG data for successful and unsuccessful shots in all frequency bands, the linear mixed models were fitted. Perceived fatigue levels were quantified using a visual analog scale (VAS). Spearman's correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between fatigue and shooting performance. The results showed significantly higher coupling strength for C3-O1, C4-O2, O1-O2, F3-F4, C4-T8, T7-O2, F4-C4, C3-O2 and F4-T8 pairs during successful shooting. Moreover, the coupling strengths for F3-O2, F4-T7, C3-C4, C3-T8, T7-T8, C4-O1, F3-T8, and F4-O2 were significantly higher in unsuccessful shooting. The current findings revealed differences in the synchronization patterns associated with shooting performance. It is observed that visual-motor performance is correlated with an increase in cortical synchronization values during successful shots. These findings have the potential to serve as a theoretical reference that contributes to superior performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Batuhan Dirik
- Eskisehir Technical University, Department of Movement and Training Sciences, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Eskisehir, TURKEY.
| | - Hayri Ertan
- Eskisehir Technical University, Department of Movement and Training Sciences, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Eskisehir, TURKEY
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Gu F, Gong A, Qu Y, Lu L, Shi Q, Fu Y. Brain Network Research of Skilled Shooters in the Shooting Preparation Stage under the Condition of Limited Sensory Function. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12101373. [PMID: 36291306 PMCID: PMC9599685 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12101373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Shooting is a sport dominated by psychological factors. Hence, disturbing the shooter's sensory function during aiming will seriously affect his psychological state and shooting performance. Electroencephalograph (EEG) measurements of 30 skilled marksmen in the shooting preparation stage under noisy disturbance, weak light, and normal conditions were recorded. Therefore, the differences in neural mechanisms in the shooter's brain during shooting aiming in different disturbance conditions were explored using an analytical approach that employs functional connectivity and brain network analysis based on graph theory. The relationship between these brain network characteristics and shooting performance was also compared. The results showed that (1) the average connection strength in the beta frequency band and connection intensity in the left and right temporal lobes of the shooters under noise disturbance were significantly higher than those under the other two conditions, and their brain networks also showed a higher global and local efficiency. In addition, (2) the functional connection intensity in the occipital region of the beta band was higher than that in the normal condition in the weak-light condition. The information interaction in the left parietal region also increased continually during the shooting process. (3) Furthermore, the shooters' eigenvector centrality in the temporal and occipital regions with limited sensory function in the two conditions was lower than those in the normal condition. These findings suggest that noise disturbance activates the arousal level of the shooter's brain and enhances the information processing efficiency of the brain network; however, it increases the mental workload. In weak-light conditions, shooters focus more on visual information processing during aiming and strengthen the inhibition of functions in the brain regions unrelated to shooting behavior. Audiovisual disturbance renders the cortical regions equivalent to the audiovisual perception function in the shooter's brain less important in the entire brain network than in the normal condition. Therefore, these findings reveal the effect of audiovisual disturbance on the functional network of the cortex in the shooting preparation stage and provide a theoretical basis for further understanding the neural mechanism of the shooting process under sensory disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Gu
- School of Information Engineering, Engineering University of People’s Armed Police, Xi’an 710086, China
| | - Anmin Gong
- School of Information Engineering, Engineering University of People’s Armed Police, Xi’an 710086, China
| | - Yi Qu
- School of Information Engineering, Engineering University of People’s Armed Police, Xi’an 710086, China
| | - Ling Lu
- School of Information Engineering, Engineering University of People’s Armed Police, Xi’an 710086, China
| | - Qidi Shi
- School of Automation and Information Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650032, China
| | - Yunfa Fu
- School of Automation and Information Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650032, China
- Correspondence:
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Khan MNA, Ghafoor U, Yoo HR, Hong KS. Acupuncture enhances brain function in patients with mild cognitive impairment: evidence from a functional-near infrared spectroscopy study. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:1850-1856. [PMID: 35017448 PMCID: PMC8820726 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.332150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease. It is imperative to develop a proper treatment for this neurological disease in the aging society. This observational study investigated the effects of acupuncture therapy on MCI patients. Eleven healthy individuals and eleven MCI patients were recruited for this study. Oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin signals in the prefrontal cortex during working-memory tasks were monitored using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Before acupuncture treatment, working-memory experiments were conducted for healthy control (HC) and MCI groups (MCI-0), followed by 24 sessions of acupuncture for the MCI group. The acupuncture sessions were initially carried out for 6 weeks (two sessions per week), after which experiments were performed again on the MCI group (MCI-1). This was followed by another set of acupuncture sessions that also lasted for 6 weeks, after which the experiments were repeated on the MCI group (MCI-2). Statistical analyses of the signals and classifications based on activation maps as well as temporal features were performed. The highest classification accuracies obtained using binary connectivity maps were 85.7% HC vs. MCI-0, 69.5% HC vs. MCI-1, and 61.69% HC vs. MCI-2. The classification accuracies using the temporal features mean from 5 seconds to 28 seconds and maximum (i.e, max(5:28 seconds)) values were 60.6% HC vs. MCI-0, 56.9% HC vs. MCI-1, and 56.4% HC vs. MCI-2. The results reveal that there was a change in the temporal characteristics of the hemodynamic response of MCI patients due to acupuncture. This was reflected by a reduction in the classification accuracy after the therapy, indicating that the patients’ brain responses improved and became comparable to those of healthy subjects. A similar trend was reflected in the classification using the image feature. These results indicate that acupuncture can be used for the treatment of MCI patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- M N Afzal Khan
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea
| | - Usman Ghafoor
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea
| | - Ho-Ryong Yoo
- Department of Neurology Disorders, Dunsan Hospital, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Keum-Shik Hong
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea
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Gong A, Gu F, Nan W, Qu Y, Jiang C, Fu Y. A Review of Neurofeedback Training for Improving Sport Performance From the Perspective of User Experience. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:638369. [PMID: 34127921 PMCID: PMC8195869 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.638369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofeedback training (NFT) is a non-invasive, safe, and effective method of regulating the nerve state of the brain. Presently, NFT is widely used to prevent and rehabilitate brain diseases and improve an individual's external performance. Among the various NFT methods, NFT to improve sport performance (SP-NFT) has become an important research and application focus worldwide. Several studies have shown that the method is effective in improving brain function and motor control performance. However, appropriate reviews and prospective directions for this technology are lacking. This paper proposes an SP-NFT classification method based on user experience, classifies and discusses various SP-NFT research schemes reported in the existing literature, and reviews the technical principles, application scenarios, and usage characteristics of different SP-NFT schemes. Several key issues in SP-NFT development, including the factors involved in neural mechanisms, scheme selection, learning basis, and experimental implementation, are discussed. Finally, directions for the future development of SP-NFT, including SP-NFT based on other electroencephalograph characteristics, SP-NFT integrated with other technologies, and SP-NFT commercialization, are suggested. These discussions are expected to provide some valuable ideas to researchers in related fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anmin Gong
- School of Information Engineering, Engineering University of People's Armed Police, Xi'an, China
| | - Feng Gu
- School of Information Engineering, Engineering University of People's Armed Police, Xi'an, China
| | - Wenya Nan
- Department of Psychology, College of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Qu
- School of Information Engineering, Engineering University of People's Armed Police, Xi'an, China
| | - Changhao Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Sports Performance Evaluation and Technical Analysis, Capital Institute of Physical Education, Beijing, China
| | - Yunfa Fu
- School of Automation and Information Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
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Preshooting Electroencephalographic Activity of Professional Shooters in a Competitive State. COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND NEUROSCIENCE 2021; 2021:6639865. [PMID: 33628214 PMCID: PMC7889390 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6639865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the influence of competitive state on cerebral cortex activity of professional shooters with 10 m air rifle before shooting. Generally, professional athletes have higher neural efficiency compared with ordinary people. We recruited 11 national shooters to complete 60 shots under both noncompetitive and competitive shooting conditions, and simultaneously collected their electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) information. Theta, alpha, and beta power were computed in the last three seconds preceding each shot from average-reference 29-channel EEG, while EEG characteristics under two conditions were analyzed. The results showed a significant linear correlation between shooting accuracy and EEG power of anterior frontal, central, temporal, and occipital regions in beta and theta bands. In addition, the theta power in occipital regions, alpha power in frontal-central and left occipital regions, and beta power in frontal and mid-occipital regions were higher than those in noncompetitive state. However, heart rate (HR) and shooting accuracy did not change significantly under the two conditions. These findings reveal the changes of cortical activity underlying competition shooting as well as providing further understanding of the neural mechanisms of the shooting process and lay a foundation for the subsequent neuromodulation research.
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Gong A, Nan W, Yin E, Jiang C, Fu Y. Efficacy, Trainability, and Neuroplasticity of SMR vs. Alpha Rhythm Shooting Performance Neurofeedback Training. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:94. [PMID: 32265676 PMCID: PMC7098988 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous literature on shooting performance neurofeedback training (SP-NFT) to enhance performance usually focused on changes in behavioral indicators, but research on the physiological features of SP-NFT is lacking. To explore the effects of SP-NFT on trainability and neuroplasticity, we conducted a study in which 45 healthy participants were randomly divided into three groups: based on sensory-motor rhythm of C3, Cz and C4 (SMR group), based on alpha rhythm of T3 and T4 (Alpha group), and no NFT (control group). The training was performed for six sessions for 3 weeks. Before and after the SP-NFT, we evaluated changes in shooting performance and resting electroencephalography (EEG) frequency power, participant's subjective task appraisal, neurofeedback trainability score, and EEG feature. Statistical analysis showed that the shooting performance of the participants in the SMR group improved significantly, the participants in the Alpha group decreased, and that of participants in the control group have no change. Meanwhile, the resting EEG power features of the two NFT groups changed specifically after training. The training process data showed that the training difficulty was significantly lower in the SMR group than in the Alpha group. Both NFT groups could improve the neurofeedback trainability scores and change the feedback features by means of their mind strategy. These results may provide evidence of trainability and neuroplasticity for SP-NFT, suggesting that the SP-NFT is effective in brain regulation and thus provide a potential method to improve shooting performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anmin Gong
- School of Information Engineering, Engineering University of Armed Police Force, Xi'an, China
| | - Wenya Nan
- Department of Psychology, College of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Erwei Yin
- Tianjin Artificial Intelligence Innovation Center (TAIIC), National Institute of Defense Technology Innovation, Academy of Military Sciences China, Beijing, China
| | - Changhao Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Sports Performance Evaluation and Technical Analysis, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China
| | - Yunfa Fu
- School of Automation and Information Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
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Hou F, Liu C, Yu Z, Xu X, Zhang J, Peng CK, Wu C, Yang A. Age-Related Alterations in Electroencephalography Connectivity and Network Topology During n-Back Working Memory Task. Front Hum Neurosci 2018; 12:484. [PMID: 30574079 PMCID: PMC6291464 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2018.00484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of the healthy brain in elders, especially age-associated alterations in cognition, is important to understand the deficits created by Alzheimer's disease (AD), which imposes a tremendous burden on individuals, families, and society. Although, the changes in synaptic connectivity and reorganization of brain networks that accompany aging are gradually becoming understood, little is known about how normal aging affects brain inter-regional synchronization and functional networks when items are held in working memory (WM). According to the classic Sternberg WM paradigm, we recorded multichannel electroencephalography (EEG) from healthy adults (young and senior) in three different conditions, i.e., the resting state, 0-back (control) task, and 2-back task. The phase lag index (PLI) between EEG channels was computed and then weighted and undirected network was constructed based on the PLI matrix. The effects of aging on network topology were examined using a brain connectivity toolbox. The results showed that age-related alteration was more prominent when the 2-back task was engaged, especially in the theta band. For the younger adults, the WM task evoked a significant increase in the clustering coefficient of the beta-band functional connectivity network, which was absent in the older adults. Furthermore, significant correlations were observed between the behavioral performance of WM and EEG metrics in the theta and gamma bands, suggesting the potential use of those measures as biomarkers for the evaluation of cognitive training, for instance. Taken together, our findings shed further light on the underlying mechanism of WM in physiological aging and suggest that different EEG frequencies appear to have distinct functional correlates in cognitive aging. Analysis of inter-regional synchronization and topological characteristics based on graph theory is thus an appropriate way to explore natural age-related changes in the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengzhen Hou
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Cong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhinan Yu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaodong Xu
- School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Junying Zhang
- Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chung-Kang Peng
- Division of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Biotechnology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Chunyong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Albert Yang
- Division of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Biotechnology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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