Neurodynamic resilience and pre-competition anxiety: A mixed-methods study of elite sport shooters

Abstract

Background: Elite sport shooters must maintain exceptional accuracy under intense competitive pressure, where even slight emotional fluctuations can considerably affect performance. While prior research has largely focused on technical skills, the relationship between neurophysiological characteristics and anxiety regulation remains underexplored. Gaining a deeper understanding of how individual nervous system (NS) characteristics shape emotional responses before competition is crucial for designing personalized psychological training programs tailored to elite shooters. Approach: A mixed-methods design was used with 34 elite sport shooters (mean age 25.6 ± 3.8 years), integrating psychometric assessments, neurodynamic testing, and semi-structured interviews. Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between neurophysiological characteristics and anxiety regulation during the pre-competition period in elite shooters. Additionally, it determined whether individualized neurodynamic profiles could inform tailored psychological interventions to improve performance consistency under pressure. Results: Situational anxiety increased significantly from 36.1 ± 6.2 to 46.2 ± 8.9 (p < 0.001) between 15 days and 1 day prior to competition, whereas trait anxiety remained stable. Athletes with stronger nervous system profiles achieved significantly higher shooting scores (9.2 ± 0.6 vs. 8.5 ± 0.8, p < 0.01) and exhibited smaller increases in situational anxiety (20.9% vs. 44.6%). Moderate situational anxiety (38–45 points) was associated with optimal performance, while high anxiety corresponded to a 17.3% reduction in 10-point shots. Qualitative findings indicated that athletes with strong NS profiles used more effective emotional regulation strategies, such as breath control and cognitive reframing, supporting greater resilience under stress. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of neurophysiological profiling in the psychological preparation of elite shooters. Combining NS data obtained from tapping tests with targeted emotion-regulation strategies may enhance performance consistency and mitigate competitive anxiety. Personalized interventions tailored to an athlete's neurodynamic profile represent a promising approach for optimizing outcomes in precision sports.