Beyond mental training: early effects of combined mindfulness-neurofeedback practice in sport

The combination of traditional empowerment and neuroscientific techniques has led to the definition of novel neurocognitive enhancement opportunities, such as at workplaces and in sports (Balconi & Crivelli, 2019; Balconi, Pala, Crivelli, & Milone, 2018; Fronda, Balconi, & Crivelli, 2018). In particular, it was shown that practicing mindfulness-based activities with the support of a dedicated neurofeedback device enhances cognitive control and affective regulation skills in people presenting mild-to-moderate stress levels (Balconi, Fronda, & Crivelli, 2018; Crivelli, Fronda, Venturella, & Balconi, 2019b, 2019a). Based on this evidence we aimed at testing neurocognitive enhancement effects of an intensive training program combining mindfulness-based practice with dedicated neurofeedback devices in mildly-stressed young adults and semi-professional athletes. 35 volunteers not regularly involved in sports or physical activity and 15 semi-professional athletes were divided into groups undergoing experimental and active control training programs. The experimental one was based on breathing-awareness practices supported by a wearable neurofeedback, while the active control one included only breathing practices. Before and after training participants underwent standardized neuropsychological and electrophysiological (electroencephalographic measures, EEG) assessment. By comparing pre-and post-training assessment data across groups, we observed a significant reduction of response times at computerized cognitive tasks in athletes who completed the training, as well as a consistent improvement of the N2 event-related potential – an electrophysiological marker of attention regulation processes. Findings are consistent with available observations on cognitive and neural effects of mental training practice (Cahn & Polich, 2006; Crivelli et al., 2019b; Lutz, Slagter, Dunne, & Davidson, 2008), but they also extend them by showing that it is possible to observe short-term training effects even after a limited period of practice. Further, present results suggest that regular physical activity might foster early training effects.