Why the study?
Breathing control and self-talk are commonly used to support athlete coping, but their combined effects on neurophysiological and psychological markers have not been examined.
Does a 4-week combined breathing control and self-talk intervention improve neural activity and coping skills in elite national-level athletes?
Comparison
Combined breathing control and self-talk intervention vs control group
Design
Randomized controlled trial
Follow-up
4 weeks
Key result
A 4-week combined breathing control and self-talk intervention significantly increased prefrontal theta power (p<0.001) and improved psychological coping skills in athletes.
Authors
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Supports mental skills training in elite athletes; extends RCT evidence linking psychological interventions to prefrontal EEG modulation.
RCT (n=26)
randomized
Does a 4-week combined breathing control and self-talk intervention improve neural activity and coping skills in elite national-level athletes?
p-value: p=<0.001
A 4-week combined breathing control and self-talk intervention improves psychological coping skills and alters neurophysiological markers related to anxiety regulation and attention in elite athletes.
Tharawadeepimuk et al. (2026) conducted an RCT in elite national-level athletes (n=26). combined breathing control and self-talk vs. control was evaluated on EEG power spectral density and Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 (ACSI-28) scores (p=<0.001). A 4-week combined breathing control and self-talk intervention significantly increased prefrontal theta power (p<0.001) and improved psychological coping skills in athletes.