Modelling the relationships between EEG signals, movement kinematics and outcome in soccer kicking

Abstract

The contribution of cortical activity (e.g. EEG recordings) in various brain regions to motor control during goal-directed manipulative tasks using lower limbs remains unexplored. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to determine the magnitude of associations between EEG-derived brain activity and soccer kicking parameters. Twenty-four under-17 players performed an instep kicking task (18 m from the goal) aiming to hit 1 × 1 m targets allocated in the goalpost upper corners in the presence of a goalkeeper. Using a portable 64-channel EEG system, brain oscillations in delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma frequency bands were determined at the frontal, motor, parietal and occipital regions separately for three phases of the kicks: preparatory, approach and immediately prior to ball contact. Movement kinematic measures included segmental linear and relative velocities, angular joint displacement and velocities. Mean radial error and ball velocity were assumed as outcome indicators. A significant influence of frontal theta power immediately prior to ball contact was observed in the variance of ball velocity (R ² = 35%, P = 0.01) while the expression of occipital alpha component recorded during the preparatory phase contributed to the mean radial error (R ² = 20%, P = 0.049). Ankle eversion angle at impact moment likely mediated the association between frontal theta power and subsequent ball velocity (β = 0.151, P = 0.06). The present analysis showed that the brain signalling at cortical level may be determinant in movement control, ball velocity and accuracy when performing kick attempts from the edge of penalty area. Trial registration number #RBR-8prx2m-Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials ReBec.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11571-022-09786-2.

Keywords: 3-dimensional analysis; Accuracy; Motor control; Neuropsychophysiology; Prediction; Team sports.

Fig. 1

Experimental setup adopted for data collection/player montage (upper panel) and example of EEG raw (bottom left) and cleaned data (bottom right)

Fig. 2

Grand average event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) and inter-trial coherence (ITC) outcomes, respectively in the first and second lines, representative of frontal brain region according to kick conditions. The green area represents absence of statistically significant values in both group level or resulting plots for the comparison made; the same is valid for remainder similar figures

Fig. 3

Grand average ERSP and ITC outcomes, respectively in the first and second lines, representative of motor brain region according to kick conditions

Fig. 4

Grand average ERSP and ITC outcomes, respectively in the first and second lines, representative of parietal brain region according to kick conditions

Fig. 5

Grand average ERSP and ITC outcomes, respectively in the first and second lines, representative of occipital brain region according to kick conditions

Fig. 6

EEG spectral power verified in the kicking trials on- and off-target

Fig. 7

General overview of the plots resulting from the associations between EEG spectral power and soccer kicking performance. Note: The shaded area represents the confidence interval of regression line. Hip angle is in reference of extension (−) and flexion (+) and ankle angle is in reference of inversion (+) and eversion (−) movements at impact instant. ROM range of motion

Fig. 8

Mediational models of the associations between EEG and soccer kicking performance. Note: MRE mean radial error; PHV estimated biological maturity (age of peak height velocity); V_BALL ball velocity; ROM range of motion. A model with final outcome being the velocity, where ankle kinematics are in reference of eversion movement; b, c and d models with final outcome being the ball placement in the goal, where knee kinematics are in reference of range-of-motion and ankle kinematics are in reference to the plantarflexion movement; *EEG spectral power; **ERS/ERD. The solid continuous lines represent significant associations between two given factors while the dashed lines indicate the absence of statistical significant at the level of P ≤ 0.05