Objective : Mind wandering (MW) in athletes during competition can impair performance. Monitoring the characteristics of athletes’ MW can provide scientific guidance for intervention. This study examined the behavioral and brain activation patterns that characterize MW in athletes during the resting state under competitive pressure. Methods : A total of 104 athletes were selected and asked to complete a resting state task containing 20 randomized thought probes while being monitored by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Results : In the resting state, the frequency of MW was 36.2%, significantly higher in the low pressure group than in the high pressure group, and was dominated by meta-conscious MW. During MW, the left ventral lateral prefrontal cortex (L-VLPFC) and right ventral lateral prefrontal cortex (R-VLPFC) were significantly activated, and the activation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (R-DLPFC) was significantly enhanced during non-meta-conscious MW. Conclusion : In the resting state, the frequency of MW was higher under lower competitive pressure. The occurrence of MW was related to the L-VLPFC and R-VLPFC, the non-meta-conscious MW was related to the R-DLPFC. Future neural feedback interventions can be developed with reference to these brain activation patterns.
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