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Does anodal tDCS improve basketball performance? A randomized controlled trial
Jitka Veldema1, Arne Engelhardt1, Petra Jansen1
1Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
European Journal of Sport Science
|December 10, 2020
Summary
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the dominant motor cortex improved basketball shooting and dribbling skills. This intervention shows potential for enhancing athletic performance, though further research is needed for integration into sports training.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sports Science
- Motor Control
Background:
- Basketball performance relies heavily on shooting precision, dribbling, and agility.
- Understanding methods to enhance these motor skills is crucial for athlete development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on basketball-specific skills.
- To determine if tDCS over the dominant primary motor cortex can improve shooting precision and dribbling/agility.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial involving 52 sports students.
- Application of 20 minutes of 1 mA anodal tDCS or sham tDCS over the dominant primary motor cortex.
- Assessment of basketball shooting accuracy and Illinois ball-dribbling test performance before and after each intervention.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in basketball shooting precision were observed after real anodal tDCS compared to sham tDCS.
- Basketball-specific dribbling and agility also showed significant improvements following anodal tDCS.
- Statistical analysis revealed significant intervention*time effects for both shooting accuracy and dribbling tests.
Conclusions:
- Anodal 1 mA tDCS applied to the dominant primary motor cortex effectively enhances short-term basketball performance.
- The findings suggest tDCS as a potential tool for improving specific athletic abilities.
- Current data is insufficient to recommend this method for conventional sports training protocols.
