Brain networks governing the golf swing in professional golfers
Abstract
Golf, as with most complex motor skills, requires multiple different brain functions, including attention, motor planning, coordination, calculation of timing, and emotional control. In this study we assessed the correlation between swing components and brain connectivity from the cerebellum to the cerebrum. Ten female golf players and 10 age-matched female controls were recruited. In order to determine swing consistency among participants, the standard deviation (SD) of the mean swing speed time and the SD of the mean swing angle were assessed over 30 swings. Functional brain connectivity was assessed by resting state functional MRI. Pro-golfers showed greater positive left cerebellum connectivity to the occipital lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe and both frontal lobes compared to controls. The SD of play scores was positively correlated with the SD of the impact angle. Constant swing speed and back swing angle in professional golfers were associated with functional connectivity (FC) between the cerebellum and parietal and frontal lobes. In addition, the constant impact angle in professional golfers was associated with improved golf scores and additional FC of the thalamus.
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Such connectivity appears to be a hallmark of experienced and expert performers.
“Such connectivity appears to be a hallmark of experienced and expert performers (Di et al., 2012;Ito et al., 2015;Kim et al., 2015;Kim et al., 2014;Li et al., 2015;Milton et al., 2007).”
From Optimizing performance through intrinsic motivation and attention for learning: The OPTIMAL theory of motor learning (2016) · cites this paper as Kim et al., 2015
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- Authors
- Kim, J. H., Han, J. K., Kim, B.-N., & Han, D. H.
- Affiliations
- Chung-Ang University Hospital (KR)
- Seoul National University Hospital (KR)
- Corresponding author
- Han, Doug Hyun
- Venue
- Journal of Sports Sciences
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2015-03-12
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 19
- Pages
- 1980-1987
- ISSN
- 0264-0414 (ISSN-L)
- 1466-447X
- OpenAlex
- W2051550093
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 2
- FWCI
- 2.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Sports Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Korean Health Technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Sports Dynamics and Biomechanics
- Keywords
- golf swing, professional golfers, cerebellum, brain functional connectivity, resting-state fMRI, cerebellar-cortical connectivity, impact angle, swing speed, thalamus, motor skills, female golfers
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Biomechanical Phenomena, Brain, Cerebellum, Female, Frontal Lobe, Golf, Humans, Motor Skills, Movement, Occipital Lobe, Parietal Lobe, Temporal Lobe, Thalamus, Cerebrum
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