The effect of EEG Neurofeedback training on sport performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Neurofeedback training (NFT) has emerged as a promising technique for enhancing sports performance by enabling individuals to self-regulate their neural activity. However, only 53% of the 13 included studies, which all published before 2021, in the latest meta-analyses of NFT and motor performance focused on motor performance outcome. Due to the rapid development of neurofeedback, 8 high-quality articles published in 2023 alone. Therefore, there is a need for a new meta-analysis to update the impact of NFT on sports performance. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we have not only updated the knowledge of the effect of EEG neurofeedback in motor performance, but have also incorporated a standardized methodology, called CRED-nf checklist (Consensus on the reporting and experimental design of clinical and cognitive-behavioural neurofeedback studies), for methodological evaluation of previous EEG neurofeedback studies. The study protocol was pre-registered, and the meta-analysis revealed a moderate positive effect of NFT on sports performance, with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.71 (95% CI: 0.51-0.91, p < 0.001). Importantly, subgroup analyses showed that studies with higher methodological quality, as assessed by the checklist, had significantly larger effect sizes (SMD = 0.98) compared to lower-quality studies (SMD = 0.41). This finding highlights the importance of addressing key methodological gaps, such as reporting on participant strategies, data processing methods, and the relationship between regulation success and behavioral outcomes.