Highlights • Activation of visuospatial processes followed by a switch to motor planning characterizes superior performance. • Inhibition of interference with cognitive-motor processes is also essential for athletes` superior performance. • The present study signifies the complexity of the spatial-temporal dynamics of preparatory processes. Abstract The present study extends the sport neuroscience literature by comparing elite and amateur golfers during golf putting and examining the essential cognitive-motor processes that may contribute to understanding the superior cognitive-motor performance of skilled performers. Twenty elite and 18 amateur golfers were recruited to perform 60 putts while individual EEGs were recorded. Compared with the amateur golfers, the elite golfers were characterized by lower alpha 2 power at Pz and T8 2 s before putt release; lower alpha 2 power at Fz and T8 and lower mu 2 power 1 s before putting; and lower alpha 2 coherence at Fz-T7 and Fz-T8. This suggests that the elite golfers had higher levels of attention to response motor programming and visuospatial attention and less cognitive-motor interference before putting. These findings not only point to the importance of refining brain processes but also specify essential cognitive-motor processes for superior performance in athletes.
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