Periodic and aperiodic components during shooting preparation and pre-/post-task resting states: a spectral...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Sports Science

Background:

• Conventional band-power analysis in electroencephalography (EEG) merges periodic and aperiodic neural activity, limiting detailed interpretation.
• Understanding neural dynamics during complex tasks like shooting requires methods that can disentangle these components.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply spectral parameterization to differentiate periodic and aperiodic neural activity during shooting preparation and resting states.
• To investigate neural differences across shooting conditions and performance levels.
• To examine changes in resting-state EEG and functional connectivity before and after a shooting task.

Main Methods:

• Utilized spectral parameterization on EEG data from 28 proficient shooters across three conditions (Hostage-Rescue, Long-Range, Close-Range).
• Extracted aperiodic exponent, aperiodic offset, and periodic oscillatory power (theta, alpha, beta bands).
• Analyzed data based on shooting conditions, performance groups, and pre- vs. post-task resting states.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in spectral parameters were found among the three shooting conditions.
• Performance-dependent differences emerged, varying by condition and metric, requiring further validation.
• Post-task resting states exhibited a lower aperiodic exponent and higher theta band power compared to pre-task states.

Conclusions:

• Spectral parameterization effectively separates periodic and aperiodic neural activity in shooting EEG.
• Task preparation did not show significant neural differences across conditions; performance-related differences were exploratory.
• Post-task resting-state changes suggest incomplete neural recovery and potential mental fatigue.