Inside the brain and body during basketball movement

What happens in the brain when a basketball player prepares for a shot? This video presents the portable mobile brain/body imaging framework that we developed to simultaneously record neural and behavioral signals during natural settings, using basketball as an example.

Our setup combines two smartphones, a wireless EEG system, camera-based human pose tracking, and a wrist-worn inertial measurement unit (IMU). Together, these components allow simultaneous acquisition of brain activity and whole-body movement outside the laboratory using low-cost, lightweight, and portable equipment.

In our study, 26 basketball players performed self-paced free throws while all signals were recorded simultaneously. Using these synchronized recordings, we identified the readiness potential—a slow negative EEG potential reflecting movement preparation—during a complex, natural whole-body action. The study demonstrates that meaningful neural activity can be measured reliably in realistic environments rather than only under highly controlled laboratory conditions.

This video provides a concise overview of the acquisition framework and illustrates how brain and body signals were integrated throughout the experiment. The complete methodology, results, code, resources development , project website, open-source apps, and additional YouTube videos are available.

For the full story behind this work—including the motivation, challenges, and broader implications—see our accompanying Behind the Paper article on Springer Nature Research Communities.

Related publication

Contreras-Altamirano, M., Klapprott, M., Jacobsen, N., Maanen, P., Welzel, J., & Debener, S. (2026). A portable solution for simultaneous human movement and mobile EEG acquisition: readiness potential for basketball free-throw shooting. Experimental Brain Research, 244, Article 153. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-026-07342-6

Related links

• Project website: https://juliuswelzel.github.io/eeg_basketball_website/
• YouTube playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzC1LH6jMuk
• GiHub: https://github.com/micufx/Pupillometry-EEG
• Related literature: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2026.116647
• Open-source apps: https://neuropsyol.github.io/

References

• Contreras-Altamirano et al. (2026). Experimental Brain Research.
• Debener et al. (2012). Psychophysiology.
• Gramann et al. (2011). Reviews in the Neurosciences.
• Haupt et al. (2026). iScience.
• Jacobsen et al. (2022). Frontiers in Sports and Active Living.
• Klapprott & Debener (2024). Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
• Schurger et al. (2021). Trends in Cognitive Sciences.