Differences in Cortical EEG Activity on Basketball Free Throw Performance

Abstract

Electroencephlography (EEG) has been used to examine the relationship between brain activation and quality of sport performance. The purpose of the present study was to explore the differences in cortical EEG activity of basketball free throw performance. EEG activity of frontal, temporal lobe and occipital areas were hypothesized as the index of quality of free throw performance. Sixteen basketball players were participated in present study, and all subjects were asked to give twenty-five free throws with ongoing EEG recording. The results showed: 1. Electrodes at T3-α, T4-α, O2-α, T4-β, O1-β and Fz-θ showed significantly activation difference as result of comparison between two conditions. 2. There was no decreasing trend as time approaching to motor execution. In conclusion, the differences of cortical activation were found in free throw performances among several electrodes, where related to cognitive processing in visuospatial, inner verbal articulation and motor execution. The possible explanation might result from participants used extra cognitive processing to reach optimal condition during preparatory period, thus less automatically and less accuracy during skill execution.