The effect of EEG Neurofeedback training on sport performance: A
systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Neurofeedback training (NFT) has emerged as a promising technique for
enhancing sports performance by enabling individuals to self-regulate
their neural activity. However, only 53% of the 13 included studies,
which all published before 2021, in the latest meta-analyses of NFT and
motor performance focused on motor performance outcome. Due to the rapid
development of neurofeedback, 8 high-quality articles published in 2023
alone. Therefore, there is a need for a new meta-analysis to update the
impact of NFT on sports performance. In this systematic review and
meta-analysis, we have not only updated the knowledge of the effect of
EEG neurofeedback in motor performance, but have also incorporated a
standardized methodology, called CRED-nf checklist (Consensus on the
reporting and experimental design of clinical and cognitive-behavioural
neurofeedback studies), for methodological evaluation of previous EEG
neurofeedback studies. The study protocol was pre-registered, and the
meta-analysis revealed a moderate positive effect of NFT on sports
performance, with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.71 (95% CI:
0.51-0.91, p < 0.001). Importantly, subgroup analyses showed
that studies with higher methodological quality, as assessed by the
checklist, had significantly larger effect sizes (SMD = 0.98) compared
to lower-quality studies (SMD = 0.41). This finding highlights the
importance of addressing key methodological gaps, such as reporting on
participant strategies, data processing methods, and the relationship
between regulation success and behavioral outcomes.