title: Brain Oscillations in Sport: Toward EEG Biomarkers of Performance.
abstract: Brain dynamics is at the basis of top performance accomplishment in sports. The search for neural biomarkers of performance remains a challenge in movement science and sport psychology. The non-invasive nature of high-density electroencephalography (EEG) recording has made it a most promising avenue for providing quantitative feedback to practitioners and coaches. Here, we review the current relevance of the main types of EEG oscillations in order to trace a perspective for future practical applications of EEG and event-related potentials (ERP) in sport. In this context, the hypotheses of unified brain rhythms and continuity between wake and sleep states should provide a functional template for EEG biomarkers in sport. The oscillations in the thalamo-cortical and hippocampal circuitry including the physiology of the place cells and the grid cells provide a frame of reference for the analysis of delta, theta, beta, alpha (incl.mu), and gamma oscillations recorded in the space field of human performance. Based on recent neuronal models facilitating the distinction between the different dynamic regimes (selective gating and binding) in these different oscillations we suggest an integrated approach articulating together the classical biomechanical factors (3D movements and EMG) and the high-density EEG and ERP signals to allow finer mathematical analysis to optimize sport performance, such as microstates, coherency/directionality analysis and neural generators.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles Neuroscience Institut, Université Libre de BruxellesBrussels, Belgium; Laboratory of Electrophysiology, Université de Mons-HainautMons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheron
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles Neuroscience Institut, Université Libre de Bruxelles Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Géraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles Neuroscience Institut, Université Libre de Bruxelles Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheron
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles Neuroscience Institut, Université Libre de BruxellesBrussels, Belgium; Haute Ecole CondorcetCharleroi, Belgium.
authors.forename: Axelle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leroy
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles Neuroscience Institut, Université Libre de Bruxelles Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cebolla
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles Neuroscience Institut, Université Libre de Bruxelles Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cevallos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles Neuroscience Institut, Université Libre de Bruxelles Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petieau
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles Neuroscience Institut, Université Libre de Bruxelles Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoellinger
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles Neuroscience Institut, Université Libre de Bruxelles Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zarka
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles Neuroscience Institut, Université Libre de Bruxelles Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Clarinval
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles Neuroscience Institut, Université Libre de BruxellesBrussels, Belgium; Inkendaal Rehabilitation HospitalVlezembeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dan
keywords: EEG; biomarkers; brain rythms; cortical activity; sport