心生理學是運動心理學的一個研究取向,其中,以腦波心生理學的研究較受到注意。過去腦波心生理學在運動心理學的研究包含了競技運動與健身運動二大課題。競技運動的課題集中在探討與運動表現有關的最佳心理狀態問題,研究發現與表現有關的腦波活動主要顯現在大腦的效率化,透過大腦效率化來減少非關鍵大腦活動對運動表現執行的干擾,是最佳表現心理狀態的特徵,而這個大腦活動干擾的控制可以藉由腦波的神經回饋訓練來協助。而在健身運動課題部分主要集中在運動與大腦認知與情緒功能的議題,過去研究發現運動有助於延緩老化所伴隨之認知功能退化,運動也有促進影響情緒之大腦活動。這些研究成果顯示腦波心生理學對於運動心理學研究有其特定之貢獻與應用之潛力。
Psychophysiology is a research approach in the study of sport and exercise psychology. Electroencephalography (EEG) is the form of measurement most widely used among physiological measurement techniques in this area of research. EEG psychophysiological studies in sport psychology have mainly focused on mental states associated with sport performance. Studies on the relationship between EEG and performance suggest that brain efficiency is the neural print of optimal mental states. Optimal mental states are characterized by a reduction of interference from nonessential cognitive processes. Furthermore, interference reduction can be learned through neurofeedback training. On the other hand, EEG psychophysiological studies in exercise psychology have focused on the relationship between exercise and cognitive as well as the emotional function of the brain. Research has shown that exercise can effectively slow down aging-associated cognitive degeneration. Exercise also has a positive impact on brain processes related to emotional regulation. These findings connect the potential application and relevance of EEG psychophysiology to the study of sport and exercise psychology.