= 0.07), whereas heart rate and blood lactate remained stable. MRI analyses revealed increased SC-FC coupling within executive and motor-related regions (e.g., DLPFC, IPL, caudate, Crus I) and decreased coupling within default mode and association areas (e.g., angular gyrus, pSTG; all p < 0.05, FDR-corrected). These coupling changes were significantly correlated with behavioral improvements, indicating that BET enhanced the neural efficiency of executive-motor networks. Overall, BET drives targeted neuroplasticity by strengthening the alignment between structural and functional brain systems that support attention, motor control, and fatigue regulation, translating into measurable gains in soccer-specific performance.
Liu et al. (2026) studied this question.