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Abstract
ABSTRACT Previous studies have indicated that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is a critical brain region involved in decision-making. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over DLPFC has been shown to enhance decision-making abilities. However, there has been limited research on the role of DLPFC involved decision-making in sports, particularly in soccer, and the specific role of the DLPFC in the accuracy of soccer decisions remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether tDCS over the DLPFC could influence decision-making accuracy in soccer players. It was a single-blind, randomised, and experimental investigation. Bilateral DLPFC stimulation using tDCS was performed on both expert soccer players and novice soccer players to examine the effects of stimulation on decision-making accuracy and to explore the effects of soccer experience. Thirty-three expert soccer players and 33 novice soccer players were randomised into three groups: anodal L-DLPFC /cathodal R-DPLFC, anodal R-DLPFC /cathodal L-DPLFC, and sham stimulation. Before and immediately after the stimulation, the participants conducted a video-based soccer decision-making task (a total of 26 soccer videos comprising 2 practice trials and 24 formal trials) while seated. Results revealed that only for expert players, the anodal L-DLPFC /cathodal R-DPLFC group showed a significant improvement in pre- and post-test decision-making accuracy. Novice players showed no significant differences in pre- and post-tests during all stimulation conditions. This study provides the first evidence that tDCS can enhance decision-making accuracy in expert soccer players, highlighting the crucial role of the DLPFC in soccer decision-making.
Published Version
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