The Effects of Neurofeedback Training on Sustained Attention, Inhibition of Return, and Performance Under Pressure in...

This study tested whether a neurofeedback protocol targeting sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) enhancement, theta down-regulation, and alpha up-regulation improves sustained attention, spatial attentional dynamics (inhibition of return; IOR), and shooting performance under pressure in national-team shooters. This parallel-group randomized controlled pretest-posttest study enrolled 20 national-team shooters (NF, n = 10; control, n = 10) were randomly allocated to groups. The NF group completed 12 training sessions over 4 weeks, while both groups continued their regular training. Sustained attention was assessed with the Conners Continuous Performance Test (CPT), including commission errors, omission errors, and reaction time. Spatial attentional dynamics were indexed using an IOR cue-target task, with IOR calculated based on reaction time. Shooting performance under pressure was measured using SCATT optoelectronic scoring during a standardized high-pressure 60-shot task. Linear mixed-effects models tested Group × Time effects. Relative to controls, NF improved sustained attention: commission errors decreased (p =.018), omission errors decreased (p =.018), and CPT reaction time improved (p =.010). No significant between-group change was observed for IOR_time (p =.155). For pressured shooting performance, the Group × Time interaction for SCATT total score was not significant (p =.097), although trends favored NF. SMR/theta/alpha neurofeedback training may enhance components of sustained attention in national-team shooters, with limited short-term transfer to IOR dynamics or performance under pressure.