@article{Furukado2026, 
author = {Ryousuke Furukado and Yoshihiro Hara and Utano Nakamura and Keita Koga and Yusuke Yamashita and Youngil Kim and Goichi Hagiwara},
title = {Oral GABA supplementation immediately improves standardized MOBA micro-performance and frontal EEG engagement in esports: a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial},
year = {2026},
journal = {Journal of Food Bioactives},
volume = {33},
pages = {54-62},
keywords = {Electroencephalography (EEG), GABA, Esports, MOBA, Micro-performance},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/JFB.2026.95033439},
doi = {10.26599/JFB.2026.95033439},
abstract = {Oral intake of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) reduces stress and promotes relaxation, but its effect on esports performance is unclear. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, 21 MOBA-genre esports players were enrolled; 18 were analyzed after prespecified exclusions. Thirty minutes after ingesting 200 mg GABA or placebo, players completed the Mobalytics Proving Ground (MPG), a standardized MOBA micro-performance battery. Frontal EEG at Fp1 yielded an SMR-weighted, EEG-derived engagement index, a putative EEG marker of task engagement (flow). GABA increased total MPG score and the engagement index versus placebo (p < 0.05). Higher ΔSMR was associated with higher MPG scores (r = 0.418, p = 0.011), and the ΔSMR × treatment interaction was not significant (F(1,16) = 0.367, p = 0.553). These findings indicate that oral GABA intake can enhance immediately micro-management performance under cognitive load accompanied by increasing EEG-indexed engagement in esports.}
}