Cathodic High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Changes Gaze Behavior in Professional Female...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Sports Science
• Motor Control

Background:

• Gaze behavior is crucial for successful free-throw shooting in basketball.
• Understanding how to modulate gaze patterns can optimize athletic performance.
• Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques offer potential avenues for performance enhancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) on gaze fixation duration during basketball free-throw preparation.
• To determine if different stimulation conditions (cathodic vs. sham) differentially impact gaze behavior.
• To explore the relationship between gaze changes and shooting outcomes (successful, rimmed, missed shots).

Main Methods:

• Utilized a mobile eye-tracking system to record gaze fixation duration in 2,233 free-throw attempts by professional female basketball players.
• Applied multi-channel HD-tDCS (cathodic and sham) for 20 minutes prior to shooting preparation.
• Classified free throws into three codes: code 1 (swish), code 2 (hit rim, made), and code 3 (missed).

Main Results:

• Significant differences in percentage changes of gaze fixation duration were found between sham and cathodic HD-tDCS conditions across all shooting codes (p < 0.001).
• Sham stimulation led to increased gaze fixation duration, while cathodic stimulation resulted in decreased gaze fixation duration.
• Observed significant interaction effects involving condition, time, and shooting code (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• HD-tDCS can modulate gaze fixation duration during the critical preparation phase of free-throw shooting.
• Cathodic HD-tDCS appears to decrease gaze fixation duration, potentially promoting a more efficient inward-out attentional focus.
• These findings suggest HD-tDCS as a potential tool for optimizing neural efficiency and improving basketball performance.