The Effectiveness of Simultaneous Mindfulness and Brain Stimulation on Emotion Regulation and Cognitive Inhibition in Iranian Elite Track and Field Athletes

The interest in the effectiveness of psychological interventions for improving mental health issues has persisted for numerous years. In recent developments, the application of technology within these interventions has evolved. Therefore, this study intends to investigate the effectiveness of a mindfulness training course combined with transcranial brain stimulation, focusing on emotional regulation and executive inhibition in sprinters. This study is characterized as applied research regarding its objectives and as a quasi-experimental study concerning its methodology. The research population comprised all professional female sprinters participating in the national league, who were randomly selected using GPower software. The instruments utilized in this research included the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, the Stroop test, and the Edinburgh Test. The analytical approach employed in this study included analysis of covariance, the Shapiro-Wilk statistical test, and the utilization of SPSS software. The results indicated that six sessions of mindfulness training combined with transcranial stimulation significantly impacted the emotional regulation and executive inhibition of the participants (p<0.05). Furthermore, the integration of mindfulness with indirect brain stimulation demonstrated a more pronounced effect on cognitive aspects such as emotional regulation and executive inhibition. The findings of this study underscore the significance of advancing technology and its application in psychological interventions. Consequently, this research emphasizes the integration of brain stimulation techniques with other psychological methods, advocating for a combined protocol to enhance the treatment of psychological issues.