Effects of a 4-week combined breathing control and self-talk intervention on neural activity and coping skills in athletes: a randomized control trial
Kittichai Tharawadeepimuk, Ekarat Onnom, Ampika Nanbancha · 2026
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Description
Kittichai Tharawadeepimuk and co-authors asked whether combining two mental skills, controlled breathing and positive self-talk, could change both brain activity and coping in elite athletes. Their 2026 randomized trial enrolled 26 national-level competitors, 11 swimmers and 15 gymnasts, and gave half of them 16 training sessions spread over four weeks. The researchers recorded resting brain waves with EEG, a scalp test that measures electrical activity, before and after the program.
The trained athletes showed clear brain changes, including stronger theta waves in the front of the brain and weaker beta waves, patterns linked with calmer attention. They also scored higher on five parts of a standard coping questionnaire, covering adversity, concentration, confidence, goal setting, and performing under pressure. The authors caution that brain waves are indirect signs of mental states, not direct proof of them.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Kittichai Tharawadeepimuk, Ekarat Onnom, Ampika Nanbancha |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 55 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |