Brain-computer interfaces and neural synchronization in esports: a systematic review of effects on reaction time,...

The rapid expansion of esports has intensified interest in the cognitive and neurophysiological mechanisms underlying elite performance, particularly reaction time (RT), decision-making (DM), and neural efficiency. Advances in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) offer targeted neural modulation that may enhance these abilities through improved neural synchronization. To systematically review evidence on the effects of BCI-based neural synchronization, including motor imagery (MI) BCIs, visual evoked potential (VEP/c-VEP) systems, neural entrainment, and dual-brain coupling, on RT, DM, and related cognitive outcomes in esports athletes and competitive gamers.

Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, comprehensive searches were conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Studies examining BCI-induced neural modulation and its cognitive or performance effects in esports players or experienced gamers were included. Eighteen studies met the criteria, comprising controlled trials, pre-post interventions, cross-sectional neurophysiology studies, comparative behavioural analyses, and supporting systematic reviews. Due to methodological heterogeneity, results were synthesised narratively. Although the review follows PRISMA 2020 guidelines for systematic study identification and selection, the synthesis adopts a structured integrative narrative approach due to substantial heterogeneity in study designs, BCI modalities, and outcome measures.

Across studies, BCI-mediated neural synchronization produced consistent improvements in RT, DM accuracy, cortical oscillatory stability, and neural connectivity. MI-BCI and gamified systems enhanced MI accuracy, user engagement, and cognitive load regulation. VEP-based BCIs accelerated perceptual processing by improving signal reliability and reducing latency. Dual-brain coupling improved coordinated decision behaviour. Additional evidence indicates that experienced gamers display superior working memory, attentional control, and visuomotor coordination compared with non-gamers. However, variability in study design, small samples, and moderate risk of bias limit the strength of causal inference.

BCI-based neural synchronization shows promise as a tool for enhancing neurocognitive performance in esports athletes. Future studies should prioritize standardized training protocols, multimodal neural-measurement methods, and longitudinal designs to determine long-term effectiveness and real-world applicability.