Impact of sport training on adaptations in neural functioning and behavioral performance: A scoping review with meta-analysis on EEG research

Investigating the neural mechanisms underlying sport performance has been a research focus in the field of sport science. The current review aims to identify distinct characteristics between athletes and non-athletes at behavioral and neural levels. Further analysis was conducted as to potential reasons that contributed to the differences. Literature was searched through PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, EBSCO, and Web of Science for EEG studies that compared athletes with non-athletes or novices in behavioral performance and brain function. The process of literature search and selection identified 16 studies that satisfied the predetermined inclusion criteria. Theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands were employed as the primary EEG measures of cortical activities in the included studies. Athletes indicated significant advantages over controls in behavioral performance, Hedges′g=0.42,p=0.02, and brain function, Hedges′g=0.49,p=0.03. Moderator analysis on behavioral performance indicated a large effect size in sport-related performance, Hedges′g=0.90,p=0.01, but a small, non-significant effect size in general tasks, Hedges′g=0.14,p=0.44. Superior performance in sport-related tasks mostly contributed to athletes’ significant advantage in behavioral performance. Additionally, favorable profiles of brain function associated with athletes included neural efficiency, increased cortical asymmetry, greater cognitive flexibility, and precise timing of cortical activation. Applying EEG technique to sport has shown promising directions in performance improvement and talent identification for young athletes.