Abstract
676 To test a model of brain activation in superior athletes log-transformed averaged EEG alpha (8-13 Hz) power in 15 male (n=3) and female (n=2) national-caliber marksmen (M ± SD 26.5 ± 11.1 yrs) was compared to that observed in 21 male novices (23.1 ± 5.5 yrs). The model predicted a predominance of right-hemispheric activation (i.e., presence of visuospatial processing) in the marksmen while a predominance of left-hemispheric activation (i.e., presence of verbal or self-talk processing) was predicted for the novices. The Cz-referenced EEG at the left and right temporal and parietal sites (T3, T4, P3, P4, respectively) was amplified by a gain of 50K using a band pass of 1-100 Hz with a 60-Hz notch filter applied. Data were edited for eye artifact and subjected to a Hanning window with 10% overlap before application of Fast Fourier Transform. To infer the psychological states of the two groups, the EEG during the preparatory period just prior to trigger pull was compared to that observed during the processing of standardized verbal and sapital tasks. Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed decreased right-hemispheric activation (i.e., more alpha) in marksmen during the aiming period relative to the right-hemispheric activation profile for the novices during that period. Novices showed a similar pattern to that observed during the spatial task. The pronounced engagement of the right hemisphere in the novices during the aiming period implied more effortful processing (i.e., reduced efficiency) in the visuospatial domain. Therefore, it appears that the skilled performer has experienced an adaptation within the neocortex of the CNS that is characterized by greater efficiency. One could speculate that the relative quiescence of the associative cortices in the skilled group could contribute to greater consistency via less cognitive interference to the involved motor control processes.
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