Impact of a Single Alpha Neurofeedback Session on Working and Visuospatial Memory in Football Players: A Comparison of Defenders and Attackers

Working memory (WM) and visuospatial memory (VSM) are pivotal for rapid decision-making and effective teamwork in football. This study investigated the effects of a single-session alpha neurofeedback training (NFT) protocol at Pz on WM and VSM in 48 male players (aged 18–28), with a detailed analysis focusing on playing position, including both defenders and attackers, who were randomly assigned to either the NFT (n = 24) or sham (n = 24) groups. The NFT group received a 25-minute eyes-closed session to boost Peak Alpha Frequency (PAF) (7.5–12.5 Hz), while the sham group received non-contingent feedback. WM was assessed using an n-back task, and VSM was measured via a Football Memory Block-Tapping Test (FMBT). The NFT group showed significantly greater improvements in NCR-L1, NCR-L2 (WM), and FRS (VSM) than the sham group (p < 0.05), whereas no significant differences were found in RTs during the WM task or in BRS during the VSM task (p > 0.05). Moreover, defenders outperformed attackers on certain WM and VSM measures, potentially reflecting the distinct demands of their positions. These findings suggest that even a brief alpha NFT session may enhance certain cognitive functions in football players, offering a practical and time-efficient way to improve memory performance, with some variation possibly related to positional roles.