Perceptual-Motor Performance in Elite Basketball Players

Overview

This study investigated upper-extremity asymmetries in perceptual-motor performance and neural conduction among elite female basketball players, utilizing a one-group pretest-posttest design. Fourteen athletes were assessed on Coincidence Anticipation Timing (CAT) performance (Absolute Error, AE; Variable Error, VE), Surface Electromyography (sEMG) parameters (activation latency and amplitude), and Median/Ulnar nerve conduction characteristics. The analysis revealed a significant main effect of Hand Dominance, with the dominant hand exhibiting superior timing accuracy and consistency (lower AE and VE, p \< 0.01), which is potentially attributed to enhanced neuromuscular efficiency stemming from sport-specific training adaptations. Baseline neural assessments indicated enhanced efficiency in the dominant limb, characterized by shorter nerve conduction latency and higher amplitude. However, the dominant limb was also found to be susceptible to greater maximum errors, supporting the presence of a speed-accuracy trade-off in high-velocity perceptual-motor actions. Post-intervention analyses following the CAT task revealed significant, generalized neuromuscular alterations across both limbs, specifically an increase in latency and a decrease in amplitude (p \< 0.001), suggesting task-induced acute neuromuscular strain or fatigue.Furthermore, strong correlations were established between nerve conduction latency and error indices (r = 0.72 to 0.87), emphasizing a direct functional link between peripheral neural transmission speed and perceptual-motor precision. In conclusion, elite basketball players exhibit asymmetrical neural adaptations favoring the dominant limb, yet performance variability is intrinsically tied to peripheral neural efficiency. The findings advocate for the integration of bilateral training strategies and electrophysiological monitoring to optimize performance while concurrently mitigating the risk of overuse-related neural compromise.

This study employed a one-group pretest-posttest design to comprehensively investigate the relationship between perceptual-motor performance, muscle activation characteristics, and peripheral nerve conduction velocity in fourteen elite female basketball players (21.6 years, 2.9 years experience). The primary aim was to determine if faster and more consistent neuromuscular responses are associated with improved Coincidence Anticipation Timing (CAT) performance and to identify potential asymmetries between the dominant and non-dominant upper extremities2. Participants underwent baseline testing (pretest) followed by an intervention phase where they performed the CAT task with synchronous recording of surface Electromyography (sEMG) and motor nerve conduction for the Median and Ulnar nerves. CAT performance was quantified using Absolute Error (AE) and Variable Error (VE). Statistical analysis, utilizing a 2x2 repeated measures ANOVA, revealed significant effects of Hand Dominance on CAT performance. The dominant hand exhibited significantly lower AE and VE (p\<0.01) compared to the non-dominant hand, reflecting superior timing accuracy and consistency, likely due to sport-specific motor specialization and enhanced neural efficiency. This was supported by baseline data showing shorter nerve conduction latency and higher amplitude in the dominant limb. However, the dominant hand also demonstrated greater maximum errors, indicating the presence of a speed-accuracy trade-off under high-speed conditions. Furthermore, post-intervention analyses, conducted immediately following the CAT task, demonstrated acute neuromuscular alterations consistent with strain or fatigue. Specifically, both Distal Motor Latency (DML) and Non-Dominant Motor Latency (NDML) showed significant increases from pre- to post-test, and motor and sensory amplitudes (e.g., DMA, NDMA, DUA, NDUA) decreased significantly (p \< 0.001), reflecting a slowing of motor nerve conduction and compromised neuromuscular activation capacity. Secondary analyses using Pearson correlation coefficients highlighted a critical interdependence between neurophysiological and behavioral outcomes. Strong correlations were observed between nerve conduction latency and error indices (r = 0.72 to 0.87), indicating a direct link between the speed of peripheral neural transmission and perceptual-motor precision. Collectively, the findings underscore that while elite basketball players achieve superior performance via asymmetrical neural adaptations favoring the dominant limb, this advantage is sensitive to acute strain. The study concludes that integrating CAT performance metrics with electrophysiological measures provides a novel, evidence-based framework for understanding the neurophysiological underpinnings of perceptual-motor skill. The strong link between neural parameters and error indices emphasizes the need for training and recovery strategies, such as bilateral training and electrophysiological monitoring, to enhance performance efficiency and mitigate the risk of overuse-related neural strain in high-level athletes.