Mindfulness training modulates EEG oscillations and improves shooting accuracy in competitive stress

Li, Weitao; Guo, Jiawen; Wei, Meiting; Dong, Guangheng · 2026 · DOAJ

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1802645

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Summary

This study investigates whether a 7-week Mindfulness-Acceptance-Insight-Commitment (MAIC) training program enhances attentional neural efficiency and shooting performance in elite 10m air rifle athletes under competitive stress. The research addresses a gap in existing literature, which has largely relied on laboratory settings or low-pressure tasks, by examining neurocognitive mechanisms in an ecologically valid, high-stakes environment. The authors hypothesized that mindfulness training would improve dispositional mindfulness and shooting accuracy while modulating EEG oscillations associated with top-down attentional control. Fourteen elite shooters were randomly assigned to either a mindfulness group (n=7) or a control group (n=7). The mindfulness group underwent two 50-minute MAIC sessions per week for seven weeks, incorporating breath awareness, body scanning, and focused attention, alongside their routine training. The control group continued routine training only. Participants were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and a two-week follow-up. Testing occurred in an ISSF-compliant range using a validated stress-induction protocol involving reward-punishment mechanisms, public ranking, and social observation. Measures included shooting scores (LS10 system), state anxiety (CSAI-2), dispositional mindfulness (FFMQ), and 64-channel EEG spectral power. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA for behavioral metrics and Aligned Rank Transform ANOVA for EEG data. Results indicated that stress induction successfully elevated anxiety in both groups. The mindfulness group showed a significantly greater increase in mindfulness scores compared to the control group. EEG analysis revealed a significant group × time interaction for alpha-band power, indicating enhanced top-down attentional control in the mindfulness group. A significant main effect of time was observed for delta-band power, with both groups showing reductions over time, reflecting shared task habituation. Regarding performance, the mindfulness group exhibited a descriptive, non-significant within-group improvement across time points and scored significantly higher than the control group at the post-test assessment, though no significant interaction effect was found for shooting performance. The study concludes that a 7-week MAIC intervention is associated with improved attentional regulation, specific increases in alpha-band EEG oscillations, and enhanced shooting performance under competitive stress. These findings suggest that mindfulness training offers an evidence-based, sustainable psychological model for precision sports, supporting the "cortical quieting" necessary for fine motor control. The results provide empirical support for the neurocognitive benefits of mindfulness in elite athletic contexts, bridging the gap between laboratory-based neuroimaging studies and real-world competitive performance.

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• stress arousal performance