Mid Sweden University

Frontal midline theta power (FMT) has been associated with superior rifle shooting performance. Our experiment examined whether electroencephalographic-based training could increase FMT, shooting performance, and attentional focus in highly trained/elite biathletes. Participants (n = 28; age, M = 21.7, SD = 2.3) were assigned to a control group or an intervention group (with 3 hr of neurofeedback training). FMT increased from baseline during the neurofeedback training sessions (p <= .05). However, there were no Group x Pre-post training (test) interactions for FMT or shooting performance (p > .05). There was a small Group x Test effect for attentional focus (p = .07, eta 2p = .12), indicating a potential benefit of neurofeedback training. Superior shooters were more proficient at increasing FMT during neurofeedback training, but this did not translate to greater improvements in shooting performance. Our findings suggest that the effects of neurofeedback training are transient and do not necessarily benefit performance.

Introduction: Frontal midline theta power (FMT) has previously been associated with superior rifle shooting performance1, which is crucial for successful biathlon performance2,3. The purpose of the present study was to identify whether neurofeedback training using electroencephalography (EEG) would lead to increased FMT and improved rifle shooting performance and attentional focus in biathletes.

Methods: Twenty-eight female and male biathletes (age: 22 ± 2 y) competing at national/international levels were pair-matched based on their best shooting test scores and were assigned to either a control group (CON: regular training only) or an intervention group (NFT: regular training plus 6 x 30-min sessions of neurofeedback training). The training intervention consisted of 6 sessions of 10 x 3-min blocks of neurofeedback training using EEG, which aimed to increase the participants’ FMT whilst dry-firing their rifle in a seated position. Pre- and post-tests included assessment of precision shooting and simulated biathlon performance (Figure 1).

Results: FMT increased from baseline during the neurofeedback training sessions (p<0.05). However, there were no differences in pre- to post-test changes in FMT or shooting performance between the two groups (p>0.05, Figure 2). There was a small group x test interaction effect for attentional focus (p = 0.07; ηp2 = 0.12), indicating a potential benefit of neurofeedback training. Inter-individual differences indicated that superior shooters were more proficient at increasing FMT during neurofeedback training, but this did not translate to greater improvements in post-test shooting performance.

Discussion: The prescribed neurofeedback training was sufficient to allow biathletes to increase FMT while dry-firing their rifle. However, the training intervention was ineffective in elevating FMT or improving rifle shooting performance during live-fire shooting tests, possibly due to participants developing varied, irrelevant or ineffective strategies to shape their FMT. Participants who were most responsive to the neurofeedback intervention tended to be most proficient during sport-specific shooting tests. This suggests that more skilled performers may be more receptive to neurofeedback training, although this requires further investigation.

INTRODUCTION: Frontal midline theta power (FMT) has previously been associated with superior rifle shooting performance (1), which is crucial for successful biathlon performance (2,3). The purpose of the present study was to identify whether neurofeedback training using electroencephalography (EEG) would lead to increased FMT and improved rifle shooting performance and attentional focus in biathletes.

METHODS: Twenty-eight female and male biathletes (age: 21.7 ± 2.3 y) competing at national/international levels were pair-matched based on their best shooting test scores and were assigned to either a control group (CON: regular training only) or an intervention group (NFT: regular training plus 6 x 30-min sessions of neurofeedback training). The training intervention consisted of 6 sessions of 10 x 3-min blocks of neurofeedback training using EEG, which aimed to increase the participants’ FMT whilst dry-firing their rifle in a seated position. Pre- and post-tests included assessment of precision shooting and simulated biathlon performance.

RESULTS: FMT increased from baseline during the neurofeedback training sessions (p ≤ 0.05). However, there were no differences in pre- to post-test changes in FMT or shooting performance between the two groups (CON vs. NFT, p > 0.05). There was a small group (CON, NFT) x test (PRE, POST) interaction effect for attentional focus (p = 0.07; ηp2 = 0.12), indicating a potential benefit of neurofeedback training. Analyses of inter-individual differences indicated that superior shooters were more proficient at increasing FMT during neurofeedback training, but this did not translate to greater improvements in post-test shooting performance.

DISCUSSION: Our findings show that the prescribed neurofeedback training was sufficient to allow biathletes to increase FMT while dry-firing their rifle. However, the training intervention was ineffective in elevating FMT or improving rifle shooting performance during live-fire shooting tests, possibly due to participants developing varied, irrelevant or ineffective strategies to shape their FMT. Participants who were most responsive to the neurofeedback intervention tended to be most proficient during sport-specific shooting tests. This suggests that more skilled performers may be more receptive to neurofeedback training, although this requires further investigation.

 REFERENCES: 

1.    Luchsinger et al., 2016. PLoS One, 11: e0150461

2.    Luchsinger et al., 2019. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 14: 190–195

1.    Björklund et al., 2022. J Sports Sci, 40: 96–103

Purpose: This investigation aimed to evaluate the effects of wearing upper- and lower-body compression garments on cross-country (XC) skiing performance in elite winter biathletes. Methods: Seven senior biathletes (four males, three females) from the Swedish national team performed two exercise trials in a randomized and counterbalanced order, wearing either commercially-available upper- and lower-body compression garments (COMP) or a standard winter-biathlon racing suit (CON). In each trial the athletes roller-skied on a customized treadmill, completing a time-trial (TT) simulating the skiing duration of a biathlon sprint race, followed by a time-to-exhaustion (TTE) test designed to elicit exhaustion within ~ 60–90 s. Heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration (BLa), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), thermal sensation (TS) and thermal comfort (TC) were monitored throughout each trial, while muscle soreness was measured up to 48 h after each trial. Results: Pressure exerted by the clothing was significantly higher at all anatomical sites for COMP compared to CON (P ≤ 0.002). Wearing COMP led to small positive effects on TT (d = 0.31) and TTE test (d = 0.31) performances compared to CON, but these differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). No significant differences were found for any physiological (HR or BLa) or subjective (RPE, TS, TC or muscle soreness) responses between COMP and CON (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Wearing COMP during maximal XC skiing may have small but worthwhile beneficial effects on performance for some individuals. Due to individual variation, athletes are advised to test COMP prior to competition.