Amateurs exhibit greater psychomotor efficiency than novices: evidence from EEG during a visuomotor task
IntroductionThe goal of this study was to examine the neural activities, which contribute to performance efficiency in the early stages of motor skill learning, such as amateur versus novice. To achieve this goal, electroencephalography (EEG) was employed to compare the differences in EEG power that...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1436549/full |
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| author | Guo Lu John Elvis Hagan John Elvis Hagan Ming-Yang Cheng Dong-Tai Chen Chieh-Ju Lu Fang-Yi Lin Li-Ju Chen Dan Li Kuo-Pin Wang Kuo-Pin Wang Kuo-Pin Wang |
| author_facet | Guo Lu John Elvis Hagan John Elvis Hagan Ming-Yang Cheng Dong-Tai Chen Chieh-Ju Lu Fang-Yi Lin Li-Ju Chen Dan Li Kuo-Pin Wang Kuo-Pin Wang Kuo-Pin Wang |
| author_sort | Guo Lu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe goal of this study was to examine the neural activities, which contribute to performance efficiency in the early stages of motor skill learning, such as amateur versus novice. To achieve this goal, electroencephalography (EEG) was employed to compare the differences in EEG power that can be used to assess neural excitability between amateur and novice golfers during a visuomotor task (i.e., golf putting task).Methods16 amateurs (9 females, 7 males, mean age = 20.81 ± 1.83; an intermediate skill level with an average handicap of 33 ± 5.68 and 3.81 ± 1.83 years of experience) and 16 novice golfers (9 females, 7 males, mean age = 22.25 ± 1.61; no prior experience in golf or formal training) were asked to perform a golf putting task while their EEG was recorded. During the warm-up session, each participant determined their individual putting distance, targeting a 40–60% success rate. Once established, participants were asked to perform 10 putts per block across 6 blocks in the experimental session.ResultsThe results of the study indicated that amateur golfers demonstrated: (1) higher Fz Theta power, (2) higher Fz, Pz, T7, T8 Alpha 2 power, (3) higher Mu 2 power, and (4) higher SMR power compared with novices during motor preparation. These findings suggest that amateur golfers exhibited reduced motor programming (as indicated by higher Alpha 2 power at Fz and Mu 2 power), reduced verbal-analytical engagement (higher T7 Alpha 2 power), reduced conscious perception of sensations (higher SMR power), reduced visuospatial processes (higher Alpha 2 power at Pz and T8), and enhanced cognitive control of sustained attention (higher Fz Theta power).DiscussionThese findings support the notion that the achievement of psychomotor efficiency involves the selective activation and inhibition of neuromotor processes. The study outcomes not only contribute to a broader understanding of the refinement of neuromotor processes during the transition from novice to amateur, but also specify neuromotor processes that can be categorized within the framework of psychomotor efficiency. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6a174b05468a4f4d9e45fbe210d6166f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-6a174b05468a4f4d9e45fbe210d6166f2025-08-20T03:51:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-07-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14365491436549Amateurs exhibit greater psychomotor efficiency than novices: evidence from EEG during a visuomotor taskGuo Lu0John Elvis Hagan1John Elvis Hagan2Ming-Yang Cheng3Dong-Tai Chen4Chieh-Ju Lu5Fang-Yi Lin6Li-Ju Chen7Dan Li8Kuo-Pin Wang9Kuo-Pin Wang10Kuo-Pin Wang11International Football Education School, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin Province, ChinaCenter for Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, GermanyNeurocognition and Action - Biomechanics Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Sports Science, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, GermanyDepartment of Sport Science Research, Taiwan Institute of Sports Science, Kaohsiung, TaiwanMaster Program of Sport Facility and Health Promotion, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanMaster Program of Sport Facility and Health Promotion, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanMaster Program of Sport Facility and Health Promotion, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanMaster Program of Sport Facility and Health Promotion, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanHumanity and Sociology in Physical Education Department, Jilin Sport University, Changchun, ChinaCenter for Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, GermanyMaster Program of Sport Facility and Health Promotion, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanNTU Plus Academy, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanIntroductionThe goal of this study was to examine the neural activities, which contribute to performance efficiency in the early stages of motor skill learning, such as amateur versus novice. To achieve this goal, electroencephalography (EEG) was employed to compare the differences in EEG power that can be used to assess neural excitability between amateur and novice golfers during a visuomotor task (i.e., golf putting task).Methods16 amateurs (9 females, 7 males, mean age = 20.81 ± 1.83; an intermediate skill level with an average handicap of 33 ± 5.68 and 3.81 ± 1.83 years of experience) and 16 novice golfers (9 females, 7 males, mean age = 22.25 ± 1.61; no prior experience in golf or formal training) were asked to perform a golf putting task while their EEG was recorded. During the warm-up session, each participant determined their individual putting distance, targeting a 40–60% success rate. Once established, participants were asked to perform 10 putts per block across 6 blocks in the experimental session.ResultsThe results of the study indicated that amateur golfers demonstrated: (1) higher Fz Theta power, (2) higher Fz, Pz, T7, T8 Alpha 2 power, (3) higher Mu 2 power, and (4) higher SMR power compared with novices during motor preparation. These findings suggest that amateur golfers exhibited reduced motor programming (as indicated by higher Alpha 2 power at Fz and Mu 2 power), reduced verbal-analytical engagement (higher T7 Alpha 2 power), reduced conscious perception of sensations (higher SMR power), reduced visuospatial processes (higher Alpha 2 power at Pz and T8), and enhanced cognitive control of sustained attention (higher Fz Theta power).DiscussionThese findings support the notion that the achievement of psychomotor efficiency involves the selective activation and inhibition of neuromotor processes. The study outcomes not only contribute to a broader understanding of the refinement of neuromotor processes during the transition from novice to amateur, but also specify neuromotor processes that can be categorized within the framework of psychomotor efficiency.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1436549/fullneuromotor processesmotor performancemotor learningattentionneurofeedbackbrain oscillations |
| spellingShingle | Guo Lu John Elvis Hagan John Elvis Hagan Ming-Yang Cheng Dong-Tai Chen Chieh-Ju Lu Fang-Yi Lin Li-Ju Chen Dan Li Kuo-Pin Wang Kuo-Pin Wang Kuo-Pin Wang Amateurs exhibit greater psychomotor efficiency than novices: evidence from EEG during a visuomotor task Frontiers in Psychology neuromotor processes motor performance motor learning attention neurofeedback brain oscillations |
| title | Amateurs exhibit greater psychomotor efficiency than novices: evidence from EEG during a visuomotor task |
| title_full | Amateurs exhibit greater psychomotor efficiency than novices: evidence from EEG during a visuomotor task |
| title_fullStr | Amateurs exhibit greater psychomotor efficiency than novices: evidence from EEG during a visuomotor task |
| title_full_unstemmed | Amateurs exhibit greater psychomotor efficiency than novices: evidence from EEG during a visuomotor task |
| title_short | Amateurs exhibit greater psychomotor efficiency than novices: evidence from EEG during a visuomotor task |
| title_sort | amateurs exhibit greater psychomotor efficiency than novices evidence from eeg during a visuomotor task |
| topic | neuromotor processes motor performance motor learning attention neurofeedback brain oscillations |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1436549/full |
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