Enhancing shooting performance and cognitive engagement in virtual reality environments through brief meditation training

Mindfulness meditation training has been associated with improved cognitive and sport performance, but the mechanisms linking mindfulness, cognitive engagement, and performance remain unclear, especially in simultaneous assessments during sports tasks. This study explored whether brief mindfulness meditation (BMM) training impacts shooting performance and cognitive engagement. We hypothesized that: (1) the meditation group would show improved shooting performance compared to the control group, and (2) daily 15-min mindfulness meditation would enhance cognitive engagement, reflected by brain activity. Sixty participants were randomly assigned to either an 18-day mindfulness meditation group or a control group. A virtual reality (VR) shooting task assessed performance before and after the intervention, while portable EEG devices recorded brain activity. The meditation group improved shooting scores by 6.56 points (p = 0.036) and showed a higher Beta/(Alpha + Theta) ratio-a marker of cognitive engagement reflecting greater focus and alertness versus relaxation-in left frontal regions (AF3, AF7, Fp1), but not right regions (AF4, AF8, Fp2). These findings suggest that BMM can improve both motor precision and mental focus, making it a valuable tool for athletes and professionals in high-precision fields such as surgery and aviation. Integrating short BMM sessions into training routines may help optimize focus and performance.