Research summary · Sport psychology
Neurofeedback and competitive stress in golfers
An exploratory trial tests whether slow-cortical-potential neurofeedback changes hormonal, autonomic and putting responses during simulated golf competition.
- Publication year
- 2026
- First published online
- Publication type
- Exploratory randomized controlled trial
- Journal
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Population / context
- Amateur and semi-professional golfers
What the publication reports
Forty-two golfers were randomized 21:21 to eight weeks of neurofeedback or wait-list control. Exploratory analyses suggested greater heart-rate-variability magnitude and RMSSD in the trained group, but putting performance did not improve and hormonal re-exposure patterns occurred in both groups.
Limits and interpretation
There was no active sham control, the sample was small and autonomic analyses were exploratory. Results do not demonstrate improved golf performance or isolate neurofeedback from expectancy effects.
Read the source
Consult the original record for the full author list, methods, references, funding and competing-interest disclosures.
Modulation of neuroendocrine and autonomic responses to competitive stress by slow cortical potentials training in golfers: An exploratory randomized controlled trial
Original publication / indexed recordPMID: 42275774DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2026.107934Reader discussion
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