The effect of Neurofeedback training on sport performance enhancement and conscious motor processing in skilled dart player

The employment of neurofeedback is growing rapidly in sport performance enhancement. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of neurofeedback training on motor performance and conscious motor processing of skilled dart players. The subjects were 20 male skilled dart players. The research was conducted in five phases: pretest, neurofeedback training, posttest 1, under pressure test and posttest 2. Neurofeedback training consisted of prevention training of the alpha frequency band (8 to 12 Hz) in F4. To analyze data, descriptive statistics and mixed ANOVA were used. The results of mixed ANOVA showed that the main effect of the test sessions was significant (p = 0.001). In other words, the effects of training have been to improve performance and to reduce errors in all groups. In addition, the main effect of the group is significant (p = 0.001). Therefore, the type of intervention had a different effect on the dart throwing performance, and the groups had different progress. Also, the interactive effect between the test sessions and the group was significant (p = 0.001). Results indicate the amount of conscious motor processing for neurofeedback training group decreased at post-test 1(p=0.001) and, under pressure test (p=0.001) but this reduction was not observed in the control group (p=0.83). The findings indicated an effect among neurofeedback training, conscious motor processing and sport performance. In other words, the neurofeedback training leads to the desired motor performance and creates automatic sense in the athlete by reducing the conscious motor processing