Peer-reviewed · 2015
Do experts and novices differ during a dart throw?
Expert and novice dart throwers show different sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) activity.
Biological Psychology · DOI ↗
From preparation to performance
Three lines of research: motor preparation, attention and pressure regulation, and neurofeedback training with transfer to sport.
Then test whether it transfers to competition.
- Methods
- EEG (SMR, alpha, frontal asymmetry, coherence) · HRV · neurofeedback · systematic review and meta-analysis
- Sports
- Shooting · archery · golf · darts · football
01Motor preparation
Expertise and performance quality are linked to how the brain is organised before action
Peer-reviewed · 2020
What distinguishes elite golfers before the stroke?
Elite golfers are characterised by psychomotor refinement in cognitive–motor processes.
Psychology of Sport and Exercise · DOI ↗
Peer-reviewed · 2023
Pre-trigger SMR and shooting performance
35 skilled shooters fired 30 shots each and were split into higher- and lower-performing groups. The higher-performing group showed stronger sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) before the trigger pull.
Psychology of Sport and Exercise · DOI ↗
Peer-reviewed · 2026
How do brain rhythms synchronise before a penalty kick?
Successful kicks were associated with lower frontal–left temporal alpha coherence before action.
In 16 skilled male footballers, EEG coherence was compared between successful and unsuccessful kicks across preparation windows. The observational comparison does not establish causation.
Frontiers in Psychology · DOI ↗
Current projects: From Brain to Movement: Neural Efficiency, Movement Readiness, and Field Translation in High-Performance Athletes · Development of an Automated EEG Preprocessing and qEEG Feature Quantification System for Sports Applications
02Attention, pressure and state regulation
Attention, emotion and motivation are linked to how the brain and body prepare for a precise action
Peer-reviewed · 2019
Emotion and motivation before the putt
Emotional and motivational regulation, indexed by frontal alpha asymmetry, is linked to putting performance.
PeerJ · DOI ↗
Peer-reviewed · 2021
Attentional focus during skilled putting
Superior performance in skilled golfers is characterised by dynamic neuromotor processes related to attentional focus.
Frontiers in Psychology · DOI ↗
Peer-reviewed · 2026
EEG and HRV under reward and punishment
Elite shooters performed simulated shooting under reward, punishment and neutral conditions. Reward and punishment produced different EEG and HRV response patterns.
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports · DOI ↗
Current projects: From Brain to Movement: Neural Efficiency, Movement Readiness, and Field Translation in High-Performance Athletes · Optimizing Sport Performance through Neurofeedback and Function-Specific Instruction: Dose–Response Effects, Training Response Profiles, and Stress-Related Generalization of Training Effects · Monitoring and Long-Term Evaluation Model of Competitive Mental Capacity (CMC) in Badminton
03Neurofeedback training and sport performance
In controlled studies, neurofeedback training has improved precision performance; how the training is delivered matters
Peer-reviewed · 2015
Can SMR neurofeedback improve golf putting?
Sensorimotor rhythm neurofeedback training enhanced golf putting performance.
Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology · DOI ↗
Peer-reviewed · 2023
Instruction can change the training response
In novices, function-specific instruction reduced the number of Mu-neurofeedback trials needed, but putting performance declined after training.
Thirty novices were assigned to function-specific, traditional-instruction and sham groups for one session. The finding concerns this protocol and skill level; achieving an EEG target does not by itself establish a performance benefit.
Frontiers in Psychology · DOI ↗
Review · 2024
The evidence on neurofeedback in sport
A review of 13 randomised controlled trials found signs of performance benefit, but the studies used inconsistent EEG targets and methods.
Frontiers in Psychology · DOI ↗
Review · 2025
Pooled effects of EEG neurofeedback on sport motor tasks
The pooled estimate favoured EEG neurofeedback, with substantial variation in study methods and protocols.
The review included 25 studies, with 21 in the meta-analysis: Hedges’s g = 0.78 (95% CI 0.49–1.07). Small samples, inconsistent controls and limited long-term evidence restrict generalisation.
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports · DOI ↗
Current projects: Optimizing Sport Performance through Neurofeedback and Function-Specific Instruction: Dose–Response Effects, Training Response Profiles, and Stress-Related Generalization of Training Effects · Optimizing Sport Performance through Neurofeedback and Function-Specific Training · From Brain to Movement: Neural Efficiency, Movement Readiness, and Field Translation in High-Performance Athletes
Training and field application
SPIN Lab turns this research into measurement and training with athletes.