INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF SELF-SELECTED MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS ON MENTAL FATIGUE AND FREE-THROW PERFORMANCE IN BASKETBALL PLAYERS

Öz

In light of growing evidence regarding the impact of mental fatigue on sport performance, this study investigates the potential of self-selected music to modulate neurophysiological and behavioral changes that emerge during cognitively demanding tasks. Although previous research indicates that music can influence emotional regulation and arousal levels, findings on its capacity to mitigate mental fatigue during high cognitive load remain limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of self-selected music on Stroop task–induced mental fatigue through EEG band power, subjective fatigue ratings, and basketball free-throw performance. A total of 24 male basketball players aged 18–25 were randomly assigned to music and non-music groups, and pre/post EEG recordings, subjective fatigue scores, and free-throw performance were collected. Linear mixed-effects analyses revealed a significant time effect in the Alpha band under Eyes Open conditions across frontal, fronto-central, central, centro-parietal, parietal, and parieto-occipital regions (p < .05), with the most pronounced increase observed in the frontal region (p < .001). Significant decreases were found in the Beta band within parietal and temporal regions (p = .012). Subjective fatigue scores demonstrated a significant main effect of time (p < .001), whereas group and interaction effects were not significant (p = .378; p = .097). No significant effects were detected for free-throw performance (p > .25). These findings indicate that self-selected music does not substantially modulate cortical fatigue processes arising under high cognitive load and exerts limited influence on well-automated motor skills.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Cognitive load
• cortex
• electroencephalography
• power spectrum density

Destekleyen Kurum

This research project was supported by TÜBİTAK.

Etik Beyan

Prior to the experiments, the necessary ethical approval was obtained from the Lokman Hekim University Scientific Research Ethics Committee (Approval No: 2025138; Date: 30 May 2025).

ÖZ SEÇİMLİ MÜZİKAL ESERLERİN BASKETBOLCULARDA ZİHİNSEL YORGUNLUK VE SERBEST ATIŞ PERFORMANSI ÜZERİNDEKİ ETKİLERİNİN İNCELENMESİ

Öz

Zihinsel yorgunluğun spor performansı üzerindeki etkisine dair artan kanıtlar ışığında, bu çalışma, bilişsel olarak zorlayıcı görevler sırasında ortaya çıkan nörofizyolojik ve davranışsal değişiklikleri öz-seçimli müziğin modüle etme potansiyelini araştırmaktadır. Önceki araştırmalar müziğin duygusal düzenleme ve uyarılma seviyelerini etkileyebileceğini gösterse de, yüksek bilişsel yük altında zihinsel yorgunluğu hafifletme kapasitesine dair bulgular sınırlıdır. Bu nedenle, bu çalışmanın amacı, Stroop görevi ile tetiklenen zihinsel yorgunluk üzerindeki öz-seçimli müzik etkilerini EEG bant gücü, subjektif yorgunluk puanları ve basketbol serbest atış performansı aracılığıyla değerlendirmektir. 18–25 yaş arası 24 erkek basketbol oyuncusu rastgele olarak müzik ve müzik olmayan gruplara alınarak ve ön/son EEG kayıtları, subjektif yorgunluk skorları ve serbest atış performansları kaydedilmiştir. Lineer karma etkili analizler, Göz açık koşulları altında frontal, fronto-sentral, santral, centro-parietal, parietal ve parieto-oksipital bölgelerde Alfa bandında zaman etkisinin anlamlı olduğunu göstermiştir (p < .05) ve en belirgin artış frontal bölgede gözlenmiştir (p < .001). Parietal ve temporal bölgelerde Beta bandında anlamlı düşüşler bulunmuştur (p = .012). Subjektif yorgunluk skorları, zamanın ana etkisinin anlamlı olduğunu göstermiştir (p < .001), ancak grup ve etkileşim etkileri anlamlı bulunmamıştır (p = .378; p = .097). Serbest atış performansı için anlamlı bir etki tespit edilmemiştir (p > .25). Bu bulgular, öz-seçimli müziğin yüksek bilişsel yük altında ortaya çıkan kortikal yorgunluk süreçlerini önemli ölçüde modüle etmediğini ve otomatikleşmiş motor beceriler üzerinde sınırlı bir etkisi olduğunu göstermektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Bilişsel yük
• elektroensefalografi
• güç spektrum yoğunluğu
• korteks

Destekleyen Kurum

Bu araştırma projesi TÜBİTAK tarafından desteklenmiştir.

Etik Beyan

Deneyler gerçekleştirilmeden önce gerekli etik onay, Lokman Hekim Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Etik Kurulu’ndan alınmıştır (Onay No: 2025138; Tarih: 30 Mayıs 2025).

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