How do cortical alpha-band dynamics differ at rest and during motor performance in male basketball players with low vs. high trait anxiety?

Trait anxiety may influence attentional control and neural efficiency, but its effects on cortical alpha dynamics from rest to action are unclear. We tested whether low vs. high trait anxiety modulates alpha power across rest (eyes closed/open) and free throws. Thirty-two male basketball players were classified as Low Trait Anxiety (LTA) or High Trait Anxiety (HTA) using STAI-T scores. Wireless EEG was recorded. Absolute alpha power (8–12 Hz) was analyzed with linear mixed-effects models including Group, Time, Hemisphere, and Homologous Cortical Region. LTA athletes showed higher alpha power than HTA athletes (F1, 85.78 = 36.42, p < .001). Alpha power decreased from rest to performance (F2, 154.45 = 45.88, p < .001). Group × Time interaction (F2, 154.45 = 6.97, p = .001) showed condition-dependent group differences. Hemisphere × Region effects emerged (Time × Hemisphere × Region: F14, 1206.09 = 3.76, p < .001; Group × Hemisphere × Region: F7, 597.09 = 2.69, p = .015), strongest parieto – occipitally. Overall, LTA players showed higher parieto – occipital resting alpha, whereas HTA players showed reduced resting alpha, consistent with weaker preparatory inhibitory gating. During performance, both groups exhibited strong posterior alpha suppression and group differences narrowed. In line with attentional-control accounts, LTA athletes may start with stronger filtering, whereas HTA athletes may rely on compensatory control. Thus, trait anxiety shapes pre-performance neural readiness, supporting pre-performance EEG screening and attentional-control interventions in sport.

特质焦虑（Trait Anxiety）可影响注意控制（attentional control）与神经效率（neural efficiency），但目前关于其从静息状态（rest）到动作执行（action）过程中对皮层α脑电动力学（cortical alpha dynamics）的影响尚不明确。本研究旨在探究高低特质焦虑个体在静息（闭眼/睁眼）状态及罚球任务（free throws）中的α功率（alpha power）调控差异。本研究招募32名男性篮球运动员，基于斯皮尔伯格特质焦虑问卷（STAI-T）得分将其分为低特质焦虑组（Low Trait Anxiety, LTA）与高特质焦虑组（High Trait Anxiety, HTA），并采集无线脑电（EEG）信号。以绝对α功率（8~12 Hz）为观测指标，采用纳入组间、时间、脑区半球（Hemisphere）及同源皮层区域（Homologous Cortical Region）因素的线性混合效应模型（linear mixed-effects models）进行统计分析。结果显示，低特质焦虑组运动员的α功率显著高于高特质焦虑组（F(1, 85.78)=36.42, p<0.001）；从静息状态到任务执行阶段，α功率显著下降（F(2, 154.45)=45.88, p<0.001）。组间×时间交互效应显著（F(2, 154.45)=6.97, p=0.001），表明组间差异随实验条件呈现动态变化。脑区半球×皮层区域交互效应显著，其中时间×脑区半球×皮层区域交互效应（F(14, 1206.09)=3.76, p<0.001）、组间×脑区半球×皮层区域交互效应（F(7, 597.09)=2.69, p=0.015）均具有统计学意义，且该效应在顶枕区最为突出。整体而言，低特质焦虑组运动员的顶枕区静息态α功率更高，而高特质焦虑组运动员的静息态α功率更低，这与较弱的准备性抑制门控（preparatory inhibitory gating）机制相一致。在任务执行阶段，两组运动员均表现出显著的后部α功率抑制（posterior alpha suppression），且组间差异显著缩小。结合注意控制理论，低特质焦虑组运动员可能具备更强的初始信息过滤能力，而高特质焦虑组运动员则可能依赖代偿性注意控制策略（compensatory control）。由此可见，特质焦虑可塑造运动前的神经准备状态，这为运动领域中的运动前脑电筛查及注意控制干预提供了理论支撑。