Acute Effects of Cognitive Training Game on Functional Brain Asymmetry and Motor Performance in Golf Putting: A Pilot Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Neural and behavioral evidence has indicated that video games and mental training can enhance motor skills and attentional stability. The purpose of this study is to investigate the acute effect of a single session of cognitive game training on electroencephalography (EEG) activity and golf putting performance (10, 12 ft putts). A total of twelve participants (10 males, 2 females, aged 22–59) participated in this study. Seven participants were assigned to an experimental group. This group putted before and after a 10-min of cognitive game training; five additional participants were assigned to a control group, sitting quietly with limited physical movements. Measures of EEG signals (i.e., frontal alpha asymmetry, temporal alpha asymmetry) and performance outcomes (i.e., accuracy, quality of feel) were recorded before and after the intervention. The experimental group demonstrated a significantly increased quality of putting feel compared to the control group. Although functional brain asymmetry did not approach a significant level, it was speculated that this single session of cognitive game training might stimulate approaching attention to the target (i.e., hole) and reduce mental exertions which could explain why the experimental group showed a high quality of feel in their performance. Future work is still needed with larger sample size and controlled variables (e.g., eye-dominance, handedness) to examine the long-term effects of cognitive game training on motor performance in skilled and novice golfers, respectively.