The brain function promotion by modulating the power of beta and gamma waves subsequent twelve weeks’ time pressure training in chess players

Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under (CC BY-NC 4.0) license

Authors

1 Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

2 Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Iran

Abstract

Aim:      Time Pressure in chess, especially in the final stages of the game, can cause failure to achieve success even at the highest levels of competition by disrupting the brain function. Thus, the aim of the current study was to investigate the the effect of twelwe weeks time pressure training on power of beta and gamma waves in frontal and central brain regions in chess players. Methods:  In a semi-experimental and a one-blind research, 26 chess players (age: 18±1 years; ELO: 1744.6±61.7; history: 3.1±2.2) volunteer athlete selected and using simple random method, and based on rating placed in two groups: chess-based training under time pressure (five sessions per week each session for four hours) and normal chess training group. Before starting the research project, at the end of the sixth and twelfth week of the training protocol, electroencephalography indices of the subjects were recorded to determine the absolute power of beta and gamma waves of all subjects during the game under time pressure. The changes of the related indicators during different stages of measurement were analyzed with a 3×2 analysis of variance, bonferroni post hoc as appropriate and independent t-tests using SPSS22 software at a significance level of P < 0.05. Results:  After six weeks of training in both central (C3, C4 and CZ) and frontal (F4 and FZ) regions, there was a significant increase (P=0.01) in gamma and beta waves compared to the pre-test but no significant difference between the two group was observed (P=0.7). While after 12 weeks a significant increase in both central (C3, C4 and CZ) and frontal (F3, F4 and FZ) regions compared to both previous stages was detected in central (C3, C4 and CZ) and frontal (F3 and FZ) regions (P=0.001). In addition, in the F3 area, the increase in beta wave was significantly higher than in the F4 area (P=0.04). Conclusions:  It could be concluded that time pressure chess training can potentially improve the skill performance of chess players by modulating the activity of beta and gamma waves in the frontal areas, especially (F3).

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Applied Health Studies in Sport Physiology
Volume 13, Issue 1
March 2026
Pages 28-40

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History

  • Receive Date: 13 March 2024
  • Revise Date: 10 June 2024
  • Accept Date: 15 June 2024

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