Sport Psychology Studies

Sport Psychology Studies

Effects of Neurofeedback Training on Alerting and Orienting Networks and Dart-Throwing Performance in Novices Under State-Competitive Anxiety

Document Type : Original research

Authors
Hadis Kavianipoor 1
Alireza Farsi 2
Alireza Bahramy 3
1 PhD Student, Department of Sport Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, School of Sport Science and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences in Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Motor Behavior and Sport Psychology, Arak University, Arak, Iran
10.22089/spsyj.2023.13628.2341
Abstract
Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of neurofeedback training on the alerting network, attentional orienting, and dart-throwing skill performance of novice individuals under competitive state anxiety conditions.
Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design comprising one experimental group and one control group. Twenty female students (age: 23.10±2.48 years) who were purposefully selected participated in this study and were divided into two groups: neurofeedback training and control. The pretest included the Attention Networks Test and dart throwing under competitive state-anxiety conditions. Then, all participants practiced three sessions per week for a total of fourteen sessions. The neurofeedback training group performed neurofeedback training (enhancing SMR waves, reducing theta, and enhancing alpha) along with dart-throwing practice, while the control group performed only dart-throwing practice. Forty-eight hours after the last training session, the posttest (identical to the pretest) was administered.
Findings: The results showed a significant difference in the efficiency of the alerting network, orienting, and dart-throwing skill performance between the neurofeedback training group and the control group. Based on the results, it can be stated that neurofeedback training, by reducing anxiety and creating an optimal level of arousal, improves the efficiency of the alerting and orienting networks.
Conclusion: Overall, these findings support the effect of neurofeedback training on the neural mechanisms of the alerting and orienting networks of attention and demonstrated that improved attentional processes lead to better performance in dart-throwing skill.
Keywords
Neurofeedback Training
Anxiety
Attentional Networks
Dart-Throwing
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Sport Psychology Studies
Volume 15, Issue 56
Spring 2026
Pages 1-18

  • Receive Date 29 September 2022
  • Revise Date 30 January 2023
  • Accept Date 01 February 2023