EEG rhythms in prefrontal cortex as predictors of anxiety among youth soccer players

The study explores the oscillations of EEG rhythms at rest in eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions in relationship to the competitive anxiety. Youth soccer players (n = 16) were the participants of the study. To assess anxiety state, participants completed the Sport Competition Anxiety Test. The EEG was recorded using single-channel mobile EEG system on the prefrontal cortex. Regression model was used to analyze EEG rhythms as predictor of anxiety by cross-sectional study. Regression analyses revealed that the indicator of eyes-open condition based on delta rhythm is the predictor with positive slope to the prediction of the level of competitive anxiety (P ≤ 0.01). The indicator of eyes-closed condition based on theta rhythm is the predictor with negative slope to the prediction of the level of competitive anxiety (P ≤ 0.03). The findings are interpreted to suggest that delta and theta rhythms are a plausible neurobiological index of anxiety and can distinguish anxiety in sport competition. A slow EEG oscillation predicts formation of competitive anxiety in soccer players and appears to reflect the mechanism of the defensive inhibition in prefrontal cortex to competitive anxiety. Application of the portable EEG system may provide an efficient and valid predictor of emotional state of soccer players.