Electroencephalography in motor decision-making: a scoping review in athletes

The application of electroencephalography to investigate the neural mechanisms of motor decision-making in athletes is a rapidly evolving field. However, significant heterogeneity in experimental paradigms, neural metrics, and sample definitions currently hampers theoretical synthesis and practical translation.

This study conducted a systematic scoping review following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Literature inclusion was strictly governed by the population-concept-context framework, focusing on athletic populations.

Based on 29 studies, we propose a three-level cognitive hierarchy model that abstracts motor decision-making into internal planning, external perception, and response inhibition. We show that expert advantage comes from dynamically contextually optimized neural resources, not a single "neural efficiency" profile. We also identify fundamental tension between ecological validity and methodological validity of the current evidence.

To bridge the gap from neural correlates to behavioral intervention, we further propose a bio-computational "assessment-to-intervention" pipeline. This pipeline integrates sensitive neural markers, computational cognitive modeling, and personalized intervention, aiming to provide an actionable framework for neuroscience-informed precision cognitive training in sports. This review not only offers a unified theoretical lens for understanding motor decision-making but also charts a concrete translational pathway for its future application.