Brain slow waves preceding time-locked visuo-motor performance.

According to previous findings (Konttinen and Lyytinen, 1992), the slow brain negativity preceding the trigger pull in rifle-shooting tends to be decreased in successful shots among experienced marksmen, whereas no such pattern is found among inexperienced subjects. This effect was interpreted as resulting mainly from optimal arousal. However, another explanation is examined here. The aim of the experiment was to investigate slow electrocortical changes associated with motor regulation and visual aiming related to shooting performance. Four variations on a shooting task were used, in which the visual and motor components were contrasted. Motor activity related to gun stabilization was found to be associated with slow-wave positivity, whereas visual aiming was manifested as slow negativity. The results offer some basis for interpreting the individual slow brain wave patterns that predict shooting performance.

[1]  H. Jasper.  Report of the committee on methods of clinical examination in electroencephalography , 1958 .

[2]  Bradley D. Hatfield,et al.  Cognitive processes during self-paced motor performance: An electroencephalographic profile of skilled marksmen. , 1984 .

[3]  A. Zani,et al.  Cognitive psychophysiology as an interface between cognitive and sport psychology. , 1991 .

[4]  H. Kornhuber,et al.  Brain Potentials Associated with Voluntary Manual Tracking: Bereitschaftspotential, Conditioned Premotion Positivity, Directed Attention Potential, and Relaxation Potential , 1984, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

[5]  D. Landers.  Psychophysiological Assessment and Biofeedback APPLICATIONS FOR ATHLETES IN CLOSED­ SKILL SPORTS , 1985 .

[6]  D. Papakostopoulos,et al.  The impact of different levels of muscular force on the contingent negative variation (CNV). , 1980, Progress in brain research.

[7]  Heikki Lyytinen,et al.  Physiology of preparation: Brain slow waves, heart rate, and respiration preceding triggering in rifle shooting. , 1992 .

[8]  W Lang,et al.  Brain potentials related to voluntary hand tracking, motivation and attention. , 1984, Human neurobiology.

[9]  R. Karrer,et al.  Movement‐Related Potentials in Children , 1984 .

[10]  S J Petruzzello,et al.  Hemispheric asymmetry, cardiac response, and performance in elite archers. , 1990, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[11]  J. Tecce,et al.  CNV and Myogenic Functions II. Divided Attention Produces a Double Dissociation of CNV and EMG a , 1984, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

[12]  B. Hatfield,et al.  Psychophysiology – A New Direction for Sport Psychology , 1983 .

[13]  S. Curry,et al.  Late slow wave components of auditory evoked potentials: their cognitive significance and interaction. , 1981, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[14]  W. Walter,et al.  Contingent Negative Variation : An Electric Sign of Sensori-Motor Association and Expectancy in the Human Brain , 1964, Nature.

[15]  G A Chiarenza,et al.  Movement-related brain macropotentials during skilled performances. A developmental study. , 1983, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[16]  W J Ray,et al.  Cardiovascular-CNS interactions during a self-paced, intentional attentive state: elite marksmanship performance. , 1987, Psychophysiology.

[17]  R. Karrer,et al.  Movement-related potentials and control of associated movements. , 1988, The International journal of neuroscience.

[18]  C H Beck,et al.  Motor potentials and the timing of muscular activity. , 1975, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[19]  Timing of the triggering action of shooting in relation to the cardiac cycle. , 1987, British journal of sports medicine.

[20]  D B Lindsley,et al.  Synthesis of the contingent negative variation brain potential from noncontingent stimulus and motor elements. , 1980, Science.

[21]  P. Lang,et al.  Cortical slow-wave and cardiac rate responses in stimulus orientation and reaction time conditions. , 1969, Journal of experimental psychology.

[22]  R. Karrer,et al.  Movement-related potentials during development: a replication and extension of relationships to age, motor control, mental status and IQ. , 1984, The International journal of neuroscience.

[23]  Beatrice C. Lacey,et al.  Studies of heart rate and other bodily processes in sensorimotor behavior. , 1974 .

[24]  D. Regan,et al.  Human brain electrophysiology , 1989 .

[25]  S J Petruzzello,et al.  The influence of electrocortical biofeedback on performance in pre-elite archers. , 1991, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.