Relationship between pistol players' psychophysiological state and shot performance: Activation effect of EEG and HRV

OBJECTIVE: To understand the mechanism of dual activation of the brain and heart in pistol athletes during shooting performances, through synchronized monitoring of electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG). METHODS: Eighteen adolescents air pistol athletes were placed in a simulated competition environment and performed 40 self-paced shooting tasks, and simultaneously monitored the athletes' EEG, ECG, and shooting performance during the preparation period. RESULTS: (1) In the successful performance, the power values of the alpha wave of the athlete's T7 area showed a significant upward trend 6 s before the shot, but there was no significant change in the alpha wave in the T8 area. In the failure performance, the alpha wave in the T7 and T8 areas did not change significantly 6 s before the shot. (2) The Fz theta wave power value of athletes in successful performance showed a significant upward trend in the 6 s before firing, and in the failure performance, it showed an "inverted U-shaped" characteristic of rising first and then decreasing. (3) Regardless of whether it was a success or a failure, the SMR wave power value of the athlete's central area has no significant change before the shot. (4) At 6 s before the shot, the athlete's heart rate and R-R interval (RRI) in the successful performance showed a significant decline and rise, respectively, but there was no significant change in the failure performance. (5) Approaching the firing time, the athletes' EEG and ECG have a more significant correlation in successful performance and a more synchronized trend, while the correlation was lower in failure performance. CONCLUSIONS: The psychophysiological state of young air pistol athletes was closely related to shooting performance. If the brain-cardiac system maintains a benign dual activation level during the aiming and firing period, it will be beneficial to the improvement of shooting performance, otherwise, it was easy to reduce shooting performance.