Modulation of neuroendocrine and autonomic responses to competitive stress by slow cortical potentials training in...

Performance in precision sports such as golf depends on the athlete's ability to regulate psychophysiological responses under competitive pressure. Heart rate variability (HRV), cortisol, and DHEA provide complementary indices of autonomic and endocrine adaptation to competitive stress, and SCP neurofeedback represents a potential training approach for cortical self-regulation, although evidence in athletes remains limited. This study evaluated a standardized SCP training protocol in golfers by examining cortisol, DHEA and HRV responses during simulated competitions and putting performance. In this exploratory parallel-group randomized controlled trial, 42 (21 per group) amateur and semi-professional golfers (mean age = 43.00 years, SD = 13.13) were stratified by handicap and assigned to an SCP neurofeedback group or a wait-list control group. The SCP group completed an 8-week neurofeedback program. A first simulated tournament was performed before training and a second after the intervention. During both competitions, salivary cortisol and DHEA were collected pre- and post-task (including DHEA/Cortisol ratio), and heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed at baseline and during gameplay (HR, LF, HF, LF/HF, total power, RMSSD). Hormonal responses showed a re-exposure pattern in both groups, with lower cortisol and higher DHEA during the second tournament. Exploratory autonomic analyses during gameplay indicated higher HRV magnitude and RMSSD in the trained group than in controls post-intervention, although these findings should be interpreted cautiously. Putting performance did not improve significantly following the intervention. Overall, these findings suggest that SCP training may be associated with a relative preservation of autonomic modulation during repeated competitive exposure. However, this interpretation remains preliminary, and causal attribution is limited by the exploratory design and the absence of an active sham-control condition.