Neural Signatures of Accurate and Inaccurate Decision-Making Under Emotional Conditions in Skilled Female Soccer Players: An EEG Alpha-Band Study

Negar arazeshi; zeynab shams; Zahra  Entezari khorasani

Authors

Negar arazeshi Department of Sport Science, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author
zeynab shams Department of Sport Science, C T.c., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2565-2503
Zahra Entezari khorasani Department of Sport Science, C T.c., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5408-3882

Keywords:

EEG; alpha-band activity; decision-making; emotion; female soccer players; sport neuroscience.

Abstract

Objective: This study examined whether frontal-central EEG alpha-band activity differs across neutral, positive, and negative emotional listening conditions and whether accurate and inaccurate decisions show distinct alpha patterns in skilled female soccer players.

Methods: Eighteen skilled female soccer players aged 13–16 years with Tehran Premier League experience completed a soccer-specific decision-making task under three emotional conditions. Alpha-band activity was recorded from Fp1, Fp2, F3, Fz, F4, C3, Cz, and C4 using a 19-channel EEG system. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA, Bonferroni post hoc tests, paired-samples t tests, and Pearson correlations.

Results: Significant condition effects were observed for alpha-band activity in all eight channels (F = 7.74–22.75, p ≤ 0.002, η² = 0.31–0.57). Bonferroni comparisons showed significantly higher alpha activity in positive and/or negative emotional conditions than in the neutral condition. Accurate–inaccurate contrasts also showed region-specific patterns: inaccurate decisions were associated with lower alpha activity in left and midline frontal-central regions, whereas F4 and C4 showed the opposite pattern.

Conclusion: Emotional conditions altered frontal-central alpha-band activity during soccer-specific decision-making. Region-specific alpha signatures, suggesting different neural control profiles for accurate and inaccurate choices, accompanied decision accuracy.