Performance enhancement with EEG neurofeedback training: Current topics and issues

EEG neurofeedback training (EEG NFT) is a technique to help the athletes modulate their brain waves by providing the real-time feedback signals captured by the athletes themselves. The aim of using EEG NFT is to facilitate the athletes to achieve the adaptive psychological states and, thus, leading to superior sports performance (Gruzelier, 2014). The beneficial effect of EEG NFT can be discussed by the theoretical framework of psychomotor efficiency hypothesis. Psychomotor efficiency refers to the processing efficiency in the cortical activity in sports performance (Hatfield & Hillman, 2001). Superior performers achieve the high psychomotor efficiency by attenuating the irrelevant cortical processing. Encouraging reports from previous studies pointed out a close relationship between the cortical activity in the sensorimotor area and psychomotor efficiency (Cheng et al., 2015). In this presentation, one of the promising EEG markers will be discussed, which is the sensorimotor rhythm (SMR), 12–15 Hz of the EEG frequency band in the sensorimotor area. Higher SMR activity has shown a tight connection to improved cognitive performance and superior sports performance. Specifically, the reduced interference at the sensorimotor area, as reflected by higher SMR power, leading to the superior psychomotor efficiency during the preparation period in sports performance. Further studies focusing on building up the EEG NFT protocol based on SMR power is recommended in ameliorating the understanding of psychomotor efficiency hypothesis for sports performance.