Electroencephalographic measures of attentional patterns prior to the golf putt

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the attentional focus patterns associated with golf putting performance. Highly skilled golfers (N = 34) were assessed using electroencephalographic (EEG) measures of the motor and temporal cortices during the 3 s prior to the golf putt. Players completed 40, 12-ft putts and performance was measured in cm error from the hole. Three measures of EEG were analyzed: slow shift, 40 Hz, and relative power spectrum; representing readiness to respond, focused arousal, and general cortical activity, respectively. All three EEG measures suggested a decrease in left hemisphere, motor cortex activity as the player prepared to putt. Relative power measures also showed significant increases in right hemisphere activity in both the motor and temporal cortices. During the last second preceding the putt, increased right hemisphere alpha activity correlated with and predicted less error. Hemispheric differentiation was also reduced as subjects prepared to putt and few, but important, differences existed between the motor and temporal cortices. An important distinction occurred in the alpha band. In the motor cortex left hemisphere alpha increased significantly over time while in the temporal cortex, right hemisphere alpha increased as subjects approached stroke initiation. Differences that existed between the attentional patterns from the present study and past sport studies may relate to the use of one versus two hands to initiate the response.