Anticipation and decision-making in fencing: a systematic review of neuromuscular and cognitive correlates
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Published: September 7, 2026
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Page: 1509-1523
Abstract
This review evaluated how neuromuscular, perceptual-cognitive, neural, and training-related markers are associated with anticipation and decision-making in fencing, and identified consistency and methodological limitations. Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect were searched using predefined PICOS-based terms. Of 114 records, 15 duplicates were removed, 99 records screened, 34 full texts assessed, and 22 reports included: 21 empirical studies and one narrative review for contextual synthesis. Study quality was appraised using the MMAT 2018. Participant totals were not pooled because a verified cross-study count was unavailable and overlapping cohorts could cause double counting. Meta-analysis was not defensible because outcomes, tasks, instruments, comparison groups, and reporting formats were heterogeneous; findings were synthesised narratively according to SWiM principles. Inter-rater kappa was not calculated and could not be reconstructed retrospectively. Expertise was associated with earlier muscle activation, more economical EMG coordination, faster or stable responses, stronger cortical preparation, and efficient visual search. Evidence for trainability remained limited.
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