The effect of infra low frequency–neurofeedback training on pistol shooting performance and attention in semi-skilled players

PurposeNeurofeedback (NF) typically involves an operant conditioning or other reinforcement protocol aimed at self-regulating patterns of brain activation. Endogenous Neuromodulation, characterized by the absence of discrete reinforcers, has emerged over the last two decades with the extension of tr...

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Main Authors: Safoura Bakhtafrooz, Maryam Kavyani, Alireza Farsi, Saeed Alboghebeish
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1487737/full
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author Safoura Bakhtafrooz
Maryam Kavyani
Alireza Farsi
Saeed Alboghebeish
author_facet Safoura Bakhtafrooz
Maryam Kavyani
Alireza Farsi
Saeed Alboghebeish
author_sort Safoura Bakhtafrooz
collection DOAJ
description PurposeNeurofeedback (NF) typically involves an operant conditioning or other reinforcement protocol aimed at self-regulating patterns of brain activation. Endogenous Neuromodulation, characterized by the absence of discrete reinforcers, has emerged over the last two decades with the extension of training into the infra-low frequency regime, i.e., below 0.1 Hz. Specifically, Infra-Low Frequency (ILF) Neurofeedback training has demonstrated efficacy in enhancing the self-organization and regulation of the central nervous system in considerable generality. The present study explores a pivotal question: Can Infra-Low Frequency (ILF) Neurofeedback, acknowledged for its influence on arousal, vigilance, and emotional states, effectively enhance both attention generally and shooting performance specifically? Additionally, we explored whether the training exerted beneficial effects on three attentional networks—Conflict, Orienting, and Alerting.MethodsTo assess shooting performance, we employed the Shooter’s Coordination Analysis Target Training (SCATT), while attention networks were gauged through the Attention Network Test (ANT). Twenty semi-skilled pistol shooters, aged 28–40, underwent both the ANT and SCATT assessments before and after completing 20 half-hour ILF-Neurofeedback sessions. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups: an ILF NFB group, which underwent 20 sessions of ILF NFB training, and a control group that received no NFB.ResultsOur findings revealed that ILF-Neurofeedback significantly enhanced performance. In the ANT, the training led to a reduction in Conflict and an increase in Orienting and Alerting.ConclusionThe study demonstrates the effectiveness of ILF-Neurofeedback in improving shooting performance, and in positively impacting all three attention networks assessed by the ANT.
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spelling doaj-art-6fd961297b4942c49da6d95a63502ebe2025-01-22T07:11:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612025-01-011910.3389/fnhum.2025.14877371487737The effect of infra low frequency–neurofeedback training on pistol shooting performance and attention in semi-skilled playersSafoura BakhtafroozMaryam KavyaniAlireza FarsiSaeed AlboghebeishPurposeNeurofeedback (NF) typically involves an operant conditioning or other reinforcement protocol aimed at self-regulating patterns of brain activation. Endogenous Neuromodulation, characterized by the absence of discrete reinforcers, has emerged over the last two decades with the extension of training into the infra-low frequency regime, i.e., below 0.1 Hz. Specifically, Infra-Low Frequency (ILF) Neurofeedback training has demonstrated efficacy in enhancing the self-organization and regulation of the central nervous system in considerable generality. The present study explores a pivotal question: Can Infra-Low Frequency (ILF) Neurofeedback, acknowledged for its influence on arousal, vigilance, and emotional states, effectively enhance both attention generally and shooting performance specifically? Additionally, we explored whether the training exerted beneficial effects on three attentional networks—Conflict, Orienting, and Alerting.MethodsTo assess shooting performance, we employed the Shooter’s Coordination Analysis Target Training (SCATT), while attention networks were gauged through the Attention Network Test (ANT). Twenty semi-skilled pistol shooters, aged 28–40, underwent both the ANT and SCATT assessments before and after completing 20 half-hour ILF-Neurofeedback sessions. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups: an ILF NFB group, which underwent 20 sessions of ILF NFB training, and a control group that received no NFB.ResultsOur findings revealed that ILF-Neurofeedback significantly enhanced performance. In the ANT, the training led to a reduction in Conflict and an increase in Orienting and Alerting.ConclusionThe study demonstrates the effectiveness of ILF-Neurofeedback in improving shooting performance, and in positively impacting all three attention networks assessed by the ANT.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1487737/fullinfra-low frequency neurofeedbackendogenous neuromodulationshootingattention networksports performanceself-regulation
spellingShingle Safoura Bakhtafrooz
Maryam Kavyani
Alireza Farsi
Saeed Alboghebeish
The effect of infra low frequency–neurofeedback training on pistol shooting performance and attention in semi-skilled players
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
infra-low frequency neurofeedback
endogenous neuromodulation
shooting
attention network
sports performance
self-regulation
title The effect of infra low frequency–neurofeedback training on pistol shooting performance and attention in semi-skilled players
title_full The effect of infra low frequency–neurofeedback training on pistol shooting performance and attention in semi-skilled players
title_fullStr The effect of infra low frequency–neurofeedback training on pistol shooting performance and attention in semi-skilled players
title_full_unstemmed The effect of infra low frequency–neurofeedback training on pistol shooting performance and attention in semi-skilled players
title_short The effect of infra low frequency–neurofeedback training on pistol shooting performance and attention in semi-skilled players
title_sort effect of infra low frequency neurofeedback training on pistol shooting performance and attention in semi skilled players
topic infra-low frequency neurofeedback
endogenous neuromodulation
shooting
attention network
sports performance
self-regulation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1487737/full
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