Neuromotor mechanisms of successful football penalty kicking: an EEG pilot study

IntroductionUnderstanding the neuromotor processes underlying successful and unsuccessful performance in lower limb movements, such as football kicking, is essential for athletes. However, further investigation is needed to determine whether lower activation of the prefrontal and central cortices, w...

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Main Authors: Dan Li, Hatem Elbanna, Fang-Yi Lin, Chieh-Ju Lu, Li-Ju Chen, Guo Lu, Chien-Lin Yu, Kuo Pin Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1452443/full
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author Dan Li
Hatem Elbanna
Hatem Elbanna
Fang-Yi Lin
Chieh-Ju Lu
Li-Ju Chen
Guo Lu
Chien-Lin Yu
Kuo Pin Wang
Kuo Pin Wang
author_facet Dan Li
Hatem Elbanna
Hatem Elbanna
Fang-Yi Lin
Chieh-Ju Lu
Li-Ju Chen
Guo Lu
Chien-Lin Yu
Kuo Pin Wang
Kuo Pin Wang
author_sort Dan Li
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionUnderstanding the neuromotor processes underlying successful and unsuccessful performance in lower limb movements, such as football kicking, is essential for athletes. However, further investigation is needed to determine whether lower activation of the prefrontal and central cortices, which are associated with motor programming, such as motor planning and motor control, corresponds to higher degrees of psychomotor performance in a difficult task. To address this issue, this within-subject pilot study aimed to investigate neuromotor processes in skilled football players performing penalty kicks under a difficult condition.MethodsTen skilled football players were recruited and asked to perform 30 kicks under a difficult condition where the target size was adjusted to maintain a kicking success rate between 40 and 60% for each player while we recorded EEG data during motor preparation. Afterwards, EEG power in the 8–13 Hz frequency band was analyzed at frontal (Fz) and central (Cz) regions before action.ResultsThe main result indicated that successful penalty kicks were associated with lower 8-13 Hz power at frontal and central regions before action, suggesting efficient neural activation for motor planning and control during motor preparation.DiscussionThese findings support the model of attention allocation and the psychomotor efficiency hypothesis, aligning with similar neuromotor processes observed in golf studies. Overall, this study highlights the critical role of motor planning and control in successful athletic performance.
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spelling doaj-art-2d0e3b77e87444c09ee25d9a770e1f392025-08-20T01:52:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-05-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14524431452443Neuromotor mechanisms of successful football penalty kicking: an EEG pilot studyDan Li0Hatem Elbanna1Hatem Elbanna2Fang-Yi Lin3Chieh-Ju Lu4Li-Ju Chen5Guo Lu6Chien-Lin Yu7Kuo Pin Wang8Kuo Pin Wang9College of Leisure and Social Sports, Jilin Sport University, Changchun, ChinaDepartment of Sports Psychology, Faculty of Sport Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EgyptCenter for Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, GermanyThe Master Program of Sport Facility and Health Promotion, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanThe Master Program of Sport Facility and Health Promotion, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanThe Master Program of Sport Facility and Health Promotion, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanInternational Football Education School, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, ChinaDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, TaiwanCenter for Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, GermanyThe Master Program of Sport Facility and Health Promotion, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanIntroductionUnderstanding the neuromotor processes underlying successful and unsuccessful performance in lower limb movements, such as football kicking, is essential for athletes. However, further investigation is needed to determine whether lower activation of the prefrontal and central cortices, which are associated with motor programming, such as motor planning and motor control, corresponds to higher degrees of psychomotor performance in a difficult task. To address this issue, this within-subject pilot study aimed to investigate neuromotor processes in skilled football players performing penalty kicks under a difficult condition.MethodsTen skilled football players were recruited and asked to perform 30 kicks under a difficult condition where the target size was adjusted to maintain a kicking success rate between 40 and 60% for each player while we recorded EEG data during motor preparation. Afterwards, EEG power in the 8–13 Hz frequency band was analyzed at frontal (Fz) and central (Cz) regions before action.ResultsThe main result indicated that successful penalty kicks were associated with lower 8-13 Hz power at frontal and central regions before action, suggesting efficient neural activation for motor planning and control during motor preparation.DiscussionThese findings support the model of attention allocation and the psychomotor efficiency hypothesis, aligning with similar neuromotor processes observed in golf studies. Overall, this study highlights the critical role of motor planning and control in successful athletic performance.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1452443/fullpsychomotor efficiencyneural efficiencyelectroencephalography (EEG)motor preparationcognitive-motor performanceattentional allocation
spellingShingle Dan Li
Hatem Elbanna
Hatem Elbanna
Fang-Yi Lin
Chieh-Ju Lu
Li-Ju Chen
Guo Lu
Chien-Lin Yu
Kuo Pin Wang
Kuo Pin Wang
Neuromotor mechanisms of successful football penalty kicking: an EEG pilot study
Frontiers in Psychology
psychomotor efficiency
neural efficiency
electroencephalography (EEG)
motor preparation
cognitive-motor performance
attentional allocation
title Neuromotor mechanisms of successful football penalty kicking: an EEG pilot study
title_full Neuromotor mechanisms of successful football penalty kicking: an EEG pilot study
title_fullStr Neuromotor mechanisms of successful football penalty kicking: an EEG pilot study
title_full_unstemmed Neuromotor mechanisms of successful football penalty kicking: an EEG pilot study
title_short Neuromotor mechanisms of successful football penalty kicking: an EEG pilot study
title_sort neuromotor mechanisms of successful football penalty kicking an eeg pilot study
topic psychomotor efficiency
neural efficiency
electroencephalography (EEG)
motor preparation
cognitive-motor performance
attentional allocation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1452443/full
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