ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Gamma waves tremors in gymnastics: research on junior gymnastic athletes’ anxiety level
 
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1
Indonesian University of Education, Faculty of Sports and Health Education, Physical Education and Sport Department, Bandung, Indonesia
 
2
Indonesian University of Education, Postgraduate, Sport Education, Bandung, Indonesi
 
These authors had equal contribution to this work
 
 
Submission date: 2024-04-06
 
 
Final revision date: 2024-11-11
 
 
Acceptance date: 2024-12-07
 
 
Publication date: 2025-03-30
 
 
Corresponding author
Helmy Firmansyah   

Sport Education, Indonesian University of Education, Indonesia
 
 
TRENDS in Sport Sciences 2025;32(1)
 
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ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Gymnastics involves complex movements coordination, and demands a high level of concentration. Achievements in gymnastics are greatly influenced by athletes’ mental health, especially anxiety. This is especially true for junior gymnastic athletes as their training environment significantly shapes a training process they undergo and their motor development. Additionally, a human brain exhibits a phenomenon known as gamma waves tremors, with gamma brain waves acting as an important factor in experiencing increased anxiety by athletes.

Aim of the study:
The present research aims to gather empirical data on gamma waves tremors in novice gymnastic athletes, who experience anxiety, by employing electroencephalography (EEG) technology on a frontal cortex area.

Material and methods:
The research utilized an ex post facto method, and an EEG analysis was conducted using a Emotiv Epoc X device and EmotivPro v2.7.2.316 software, with >30 Hz of gamma detection. A saturated sampling technique was implemented, involving 19 junior gymnastic athletes aged from 13 to 18 years. The collected data underwent a statistical analysis, using a linear regression test with p-value set at 0.05. XLSTAT v2021.3.1 software was also employed.

Results:
The results show that there was a significant positive correlation between gamma waves and anxiety of (r = 0.503) and a coefficient of determination of (r2 = 0.253 × 100%). The findings show that changes in gamma waves tremors by 25.3% influence anxiety levels with the p-value of 0.028. The positive correlation between an independent variable (gamma waves vibrations) and a dependent variable (anxiety levels) indicates a parallel relationship between the two variables.

Conclusions:
Increased gamma waves tremors activity, which is an indicator of high brain activity, is correlated with increased anxiety levels in athletes. This suggests that brain activity, specifically frequency of gamma waves vibrations, plays an important role in experiencing anxiety by athletes during preparation for or performing in gymnastics competitions.
eISSN:2391-436X
ISSN:2299-9590
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