Evaluation of elite shooters performances with psychophysiological parameters

Objective: The aim of the study is to examine the successful and unsuccessful performances of elite shooting athletes with psychophysiological parameters. Method: Total of 25 athletes (Age: 21.58±6.29) were included to the research group; 3 females and 1 male in the air rifle branch, 4 females and 5 males in the air pistol branch, 2 females and 2 males in the skeet branch, 2 females and 6 males in the Trap branch. "Competition State Anxiety Inventory-2" was applied to determine the somatic and cognitive anxiety levels of the athletes before their performance. During the shooting performances of the athletes; respiratory frequency, heart rate and heart rate variability, time and frequency based variables, prefrontal cortex activation values, electrodermal activities and successful and unsuccessful beats were recorded and datas were analyzed. Results: It was determined that the psychophysiological values between successful and unsuccessful shots of both air gun athletes were different from each other, but this difference was not significant. When the psychophysiological conditions of the shotgun shooters between successful and unsuccessful shots were examined within themselves, it was determined that the values were different from each other, but this difference was not significant. It was determined that the average heart rates, determined prefrontal cortex activation values, RMSSD values and skin conductivity levels of the shotgun shooters during successful shooting were significantly higher than those of the air gun shooters. Also; the average heart rates, determined prefrontal cortex activation values, RMSSD values and skin conductivity levels of the shotgun shooters during unsuccessful shooting were significantly higher than those of the air gun shooters. Conclusion: When the groups were evaluated according to their success level, there was no significant difference in psychophysiological values between eachother; and when shotgun shooters and air gun shooters were evaluated as a group according to their success levet, it was determined that there were significant differences between their psychophysiological values. Keywords: Shooting, EEG, HRV, GSR, Psychophysiology