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Cosper SH, Männel C, Mueller JL. Auditory associative word learning in adults: The effects of musical experience and stimulus ordering. Brain Cogn 2024; 180:106207. [PMID: 39053199 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2024.106207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Evidence for sequential associative word learning in the auditory domain has been identified in infants, while adults have shown difficulties. To better understand which factors may facilitate adult auditory associative word learning, we assessed the role of auditory expertise as a learner-related property and stimulus order as a stimulus-related manipulation in the association of auditory objects and novel labels. We tested in the first experiment auditorily-trained musicians versus athletes (high-level control group) and in the second experiment stimulus ordering, contrasting object-label versus label-object presentation. Learning was evaluated from Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) during training and subsequent testing phases using a cluster-based permutation approach, as well as accuracy-judgement responses during test. Results revealed for musicians a late positive component in the ERP during testing, but neither an N400 (400-800 ms) nor behavioral effects were found at test, while athletes did not show any effect of learning. Moreover, the object-label-ordering group only exhibited emerging association effects during training, while the label-object-ordering group showed a trend-level late ERP effect (800-1200 ms) during test as well as above chance accuracy-judgement scores. Thus, our results suggest the learner-related property of auditory expertise and stimulus-related manipulation of stimulus ordering modulate auditory associative word learning in adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel H Cosper
- Chair of Lifespan Developmental Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Claudia Männel
- Department of Audiology and Phoniatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jutta L Mueller
- Department of Linguistics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Schumacher N, Zaar C, Kovar J, Lahmann‐Lammert L, Wollesen B. Relation of general-perceptual cognitive abilities and sport-specific performance of young competitive soccer players. Eur J Sport Sci 2024; 24:1270-1277. [PMID: 39079750 PMCID: PMC11369320 DOI: 10.1002/ejsc.12171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
In soccer, skill is significantly influenced by motor skills and physical constitution. In addition, perceptual-cognitive abilities are thought to affect sport-specific performance. Nevertheless, there are hardly any studies investigating the relationship of general cognitive abilities with sport-specific performance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze relationships between general perceptual-cognitive abilities and soccer-specific performance in competitive youth sports. Thirty highly talented male youth soccer players aged 12-14 years completed various perceptual-cognitive (selective attention, cognitive flexibility, inhibition, working memory, peripheral perception, and choice response) and sport-specific on-field tests. Cognitive abilities were assessed using a computer-based test system. Soccer-specific performance skills were evaluated by two sport-specific on-field tests. The relation between perceptual-cognitive abilities and soccer-specific performance was examined using a correlation analysis as well as a four-stage regression analysis. Overall, the expression of general perceptual-cognitive abilities was found to have an impact on performance in soccer-specific test situations, particularly cognitive flexibility and selective attention. Our results suggest that general cognitive tests could be an important tool for the evaluation of cognitive abilities in soccer. This study brings together key approaches in expertise research and makes a significant contribution to a better understanding of expertise in soccer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Schumacher
- Faculty of Psychology and Human MovementInstitute of Human Movement ScienceUniversity of HamburgHamburgGermany
| | - Christoph Zaar
- Faculty of Psychology and Human MovementInstitute of Human Movement ScienceUniversity of HamburgHamburgGermany
| | - Jannik Kovar
- Faculty of Psychology and Human MovementInstitute of Human Movement ScienceUniversity of HamburgHamburgGermany
| | - Lorenz Lahmann‐Lammert
- Faculty of Psychology and Human MovementInstitute of Human Movement ScienceUniversity of HamburgHamburgGermany
| | - Bettina Wollesen
- Faculty of Psychology and Human MovementInstitute of Human Movement ScienceUniversity of HamburgHamburgGermany
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3
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Yao ZF, Sligte IG, Ridderinkhof R. Olympic team rowers and team swimmers show altered functional brain activation during working memory and action inhibition. Neuropsychologia 2024:108974. [PMID: 39182905 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.108974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High-level expertise in team-sports is associated with superior performance on executive functions (EFs) such as working memory (WM) and action inhibition, and with altered activation of brain areas related to these EFs. In most such studies, athletes were sampled from the domain of dynamic (i.e., open-skill) team-sports (e.g., soccer players). Whether static (i.e., closed-skill) team-sports athletes (e.g., rowers and synchronized swimmers) also show superior EFs performance and differential EF-related functional brain activation remains unknown. METHODS We recruited 14 elite closed-skill athletes, all national champions, and internationally competitive in various rowing disciplines, as well as 14 controls matched on gender, age, and education, and had them perform working memory and action inhibition (stop-signal) tasks during fMRI scanning. RESULTS Group differences in performance in either task failed to obtain statistical significance, although athletes showed a numerical trend toward higher WM capacity than controls. Importantly, task-related BOLD responses suggested that Olympic closed-skill team athletes show stronger recruitment of brain areas that emphasize relatively stable task demands and weaker engagement of brain areas that emphasize rapidly changing demands imposed by extraneous stimulation. CONCLUSION Functional brain imaging data suggest elite closed-skill athletes may employ different cognitive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zai-Fu Yao
- College of Education, Nanda Campus, National Tsing Hua University, 521 Nanda Road, East Dist., 30013 Hsinchu City, Taiwan; Research Center for Education and Mind Sciences, Nanda Campus, National Tsing Hua University, 521 Nanda Road, East Dist., 30013 Hsinchu City, Taiwan; Department of Kinesiology, Nanda Campus, National Tsing Hua University, 521 Nanda Road, East Dist., 30013 Hsinchu City, Taiwan; Basic Psychology Group, Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, Nanda Campus, National Tsing Hua University, 521 Nanda Road, East Dist., 30013 Hsinchu City, Taiwan.
| | - Ilja G Sligte
- Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WS Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WS Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Richard Ridderinkhof
- Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WS Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WS Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Vona M, de Guise É, Leclerc S, Deslauriers J, Romeas T. Multiple domain-general assessments of cognitive functions in elite athletes: contrasting evidence for the influence of expertise, sport type and sex. PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORT AND EXERCISE 2024; 75:102715. [PMID: 39048061 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2024.102715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Converging evidence has shown that domain-general cognitive abilities, especially executive functions (EF), tend to be superior in sport experts. However, recent studies have questioned this cognitive advantage and found inconsistent findings when comparing sport type and sex. This study aimed to compare the impact of sport expertise, sport type, and sex on various domains of cognitive functions. Two hundred and thirty elite athletes (nFemale=124, nMale=106) representing three sport categories (Team [n=91], Precision-skill dependent [n=63], and Speed-strength [n=76] sports) were assessed using a computerized neuropsychological test battery including tests of EF (working memory, inhibition, cognitive flexibility and planning), as well as tests of selective and sustained attention. T-scores and raw values were used to analyse performance through t-tests and ANCOVA with age as covariate. Athletes demonstrated better performance than the normative mean on 5 out of 11 cognitive test variables (p<0.005). However, their performance fell within the average range when considering the results along a normative scale, except for sustained attention and working memory where they performed just above average (<1 SD). There was a significant main effect of sport category on only one EF variable (p=0.003). Males performed significantly faster than females on motor reaction time measures of attention and inhibition (all p<0.001). In this study, the 'expert advantage' on domain-general cognitive tests was less prominent when utilizing a normative scale and controlling for age or speed-accuracy trade-offs, except for sustained attention and working-memory. Cognitive functions did not appear to differ meaningfully based on athletes' sport type or sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélissa Vona
- Département de psychologie, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Élaine de Guise
- Département de psychologie, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation du Montréal métropolitain (CRIR); Research Institute-McGill University Health Center
| | - Suzanne Leclerc
- Institut national du sport du Québec, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Thomas Romeas
- Institut national du sport du Québec, Montréal, Québec, Canada; École d'Optométrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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Huang Q, Mao X, Shi J, Pan J, Li A. Enhanced Cognitive Inhibition in Table Tennis Athletes: Insights from Color-Word and Spatial Stroop Tasks. Brain Sci 2024; 14:443. [PMID: 38790422 PMCID: PMC11117886 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14050443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability to inhibit conflicting information is pivotal in the dynamic and high-speed context of fast-ball sports. However, the behavioral and electrophysiological characteristics underlying the cognitive inhibition processes associated with table tennis expertise remain unexplored. This study aims to bridge these research gaps by utilizing the color-word Stroop task and the spatial Stroop task alongside event-related potential (ERP) measurements to investigate domain-general and domain-specific cognitive inhibition among table tennis athletes. The study involved a total of 40 participants, including 20 table tennis athletes (11 males and 9 females; mean age 20.75 years) and 20 nonathletes (9 males and 11 females; mean age 19.80 years). The group differences in the Stroop effect on behavioral outcomes and ERP amplitudes were compared within each task, respectively. In the color-word Stroop tasks, athletes exhibited smaller incongruent-related negative potential amplitudes (Ninc; 300-400 ms; p = 0.036) and a diminished Stroop effect on late sustained potential amplitudes (LSP; 500-650 ms; p = 0.028) than nonathletes, although no significant differences were observed in behavioral outcomes (p > 0.05). Conversely, in the spatial Stroop tasks, athletes not only responded more swiftly but also exhibited reduced Stroop effects on both LSP amplitudes (350-500 ms; p = 0.004) and reaction times (p = 0.002) relative to nonathletes. These findings suggest that table tennis athletes excel in cognitive inhibition in the context of both domain-general and domain-specific tasks, particularly exhibiting enhanced performance in tasks that are closely aligned with the demands of their sport. Our results support the neural efficiency hypothesis and improve our understanding of the interactions between cognitive functions and table tennis expertise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Huang
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China; (Q.H.); (X.M.); (J.S.); (J.P.)
- Center for Exercise and Brain Science, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Xuechen Mao
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China; (Q.H.); (X.M.); (J.S.); (J.P.)
- Center for Exercise and Brain Science, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Jilong Shi
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China; (Q.H.); (X.M.); (J.S.); (J.P.)
- Center for Exercise and Brain Science, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Jun Pan
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China; (Q.H.); (X.M.); (J.S.); (J.P.)
- Center for Exercise and Brain Science, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Anmin Li
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China; (Q.H.); (X.M.); (J.S.); (J.P.)
- Center for Exercise and Brain Science, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
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Wierzbicki M, Rupaszewski K, Styrkowiec P. Comparing highly trained handball players' and non-athletes' performance in a multi-object tracking task. THE JOURNAL OF GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY 2024; 151:173-185. [PMID: 37574864 DOI: 10.1080/00221309.2023.2241950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Highly trained team sports players possess highly developed visual attentional skills, compared with non-athletes. These athletes also have much better motor control than non-athletes. This study compared the performance of intensively trained handball players with non-athletes in a modified version of the multiple object tracking (MOT) task, in which participants were instructed to point at the moving targets with their fingers. We hypothesized that athletes will perform better in the MOT task than non-athletes, and that the increased visual attentional load in the MOT task will affect pointing movements to a smaller degree in athletes than in non-athletes. The results partially support our hypotheses. Highly trained handball players performed much better in the MOT task than non-athletes, which confirms that athletes have better visual attentional skills. Considering the influence of attentional load on motor performance during the MOT task, the results suggest that among athletes, this influence may be present, but limited. However, this result should be interpreted with caution.
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Amara S, Al-Hadabi B, El-Ashkar H, Gmada N, Habacha H, Mkaouer B. Effect of dynamic balance on human mental rotation task in female badminton vs. volleyball players. Front Psychol 2024; 14:1338265. [PMID: 38274688 PMCID: PMC10808328 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1338265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The present study aims to compare the mental rotation performance between two non-contact sports (i.e., badminton and volleyball) in different upright conditions (i.e., with and without dynamic balance). Methods Thirty-five female sports and physical education students voluntarily participated in the experiment, including fourteen specialists in badminton and twenty-one specialists in volleyball. The experiment involved a mental body rotation task with or without balance exercises on a wobble board. Results Badminton players outperformed volleyball players in the mental rotation tasks regardless of balance. More interestingly, the results revealed an overall decrease in reaction times when participants performed balance exercises simultaneously with mental rotation. Discussion Our findings suggest that introducing dynamic balance on a wobble board has immediate beneficial effects on the mental rotation performance of female badminton and volleyball players. These findings are discussed in the context of sport specificities and cognitive processing framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samiha Amara
- Physical Education and Sport Sciences Department, College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
- Department of Individual Sports, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, Manouba University, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Badria Al-Hadabi
- Physical Education and Sport Sciences Department, College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
| | - Heba El-Ashkar
- Physical Education and Sport Sciences Department, College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
- Department of Water Sports Training, Faculty of Physical Education for Girls, Helwan University, Helwan, Egypt
| | - Nabil Gmada
- Physical Education and Sport Sciences Department, College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, El Kef, Tunisia
| | - Hamdi Habacha
- Department of Individual Sports, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, Manouba University, Tunis, Tunisia
- Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition Center, Université de Paris, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Bessem Mkaouer
- Department of Individual Sports, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, Manouba University, Tunis, Tunisia
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Li X, Ma H, Ding X, Jiang H, Zhang X. Impaired Neurological Activity in the Mental Rotation Ability of Tibetan Indigenous Residents After Chronic Exposure to High Altitude. Neuroscience 2023; 532:1-13. [PMID: 37739028 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Mental rotation is a core indicator of spatial ability, and a threshold for cognitive impairment may exist at approximately 4,000 m above sea level, but the specific thresholds for the severity of hypoxia in Tibetan indigenous populations in mental rotation ability remain largely unknown. To determine whether a threshold for mental rotation impairment exists in indigenous residents, we related a mental rotation task to inter-individual differences in a range of behavioral performance and neuropsychological characteristics across 51 indigenous Tibetan highlanders and 34 matched controls at three different altitudes (sea level, 2,900 m, and 4,200 m). Analyses of reaction time showed delayed behavioral responses in the 4,200 m altitude group. Further analyses of rotation-related negativity (RRN) revealed that the RRN was significantly more negative and the differences disappeared gradually for different angles among individuals exposed to an altitude of 4,200 m. Moreover, a time-frequency analysis showed significantly enhanced alpha- and beta-band power values for the 4,200 m altitude participants after stimulus presentation. The impairment in mental rotation ability is related to hypoxia and can be attributed to the absence of sufficient cognitive resources, which demonstrates the existence of a threshold for the effects of high altitude on the brain's mental rotation ability. Taken together, our findings have important implications for exploring the altitude threshold for the influence of high-altitude exposure on brain function, as well as for guiding the development of innovative strategies to optimize the response of the organism against chronic hypoxia-induced under extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Li
- School of Psychology, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730000, China; Plateau Brain Science Research Center, Tibet University, Lhasa 850000, China
| | - Hailin Ma
- Plateau Brain Science Research Center, Tibet University, Lhasa 850000, China.
| | - Xiaobin Ding
- School of Psychology, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - Heng Jiang
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuro-information, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610000, China
| | - Xuemei Zhang
- Shanghai Pudong Development Bank of Tibet, Lhasa 850000, China.
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Gilmour AM, MacDonald MJ, Cox A, Fairclough SJ, Tyler R. Investigating Ecological Momentary Assessed Physical Activity and Core Executive Functions in 18- to 24-Year-Old Undergraduate Students. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6944. [PMID: 37887683 PMCID: PMC10606779 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20206944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Although evidence for young children (<10) and older adults (>64) highlights an association between physical activity (PA) and executive functions (EFs), there is a paucity of research on adolescents aged 18-24 years. Thus, this study examined the associations between PA and EF and the difference in EF between individuals who achieve the moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) guidelines and those who do not. Forty-seven participants engaged in a Stroop task, a reverse Corsi-block test, and a task-switching test, to measure inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, respectively. An ecological momentary assessment (EMA) was used to determine the participant's MVPA and step count, through the "Pathverse" app. Multiple regressions were run to predict the task-switch cost, the Stroop effect, and the backward Corsi span from time spent in MVPA. A two-way ANCOVA examined the effects of achieving the MVPA guidelines on EF. MVPA and step count did not significantly predict EF. There were no significant differences in EF between participants achieving the MVPA guidelines and those that did not. Time spent in MVPA and step count were not significantly associated with working memory, cognitive flexibility, or inhibition in adolescents. Further research is warranted to understand other factors that may significantly affect EF, within and outside an individual's control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayva-Mae Gilmour
- Movement Behaviours, Health, and Wellbeing Research Group, Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk L39 4QP, UK; (M.J.M.); (S.J.F.)
| | - Mhairi J. MacDonald
- Movement Behaviours, Health, and Wellbeing Research Group, Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk L39 4QP, UK; (M.J.M.); (S.J.F.)
| | - Ashley Cox
- Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK;
| | - Stuart J. Fairclough
- Movement Behaviours, Health, and Wellbeing Research Group, Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk L39 4QP, UK; (M.J.M.); (S.J.F.)
| | - Richard Tyler
- Movement Behaviours, Health, and Wellbeing Research Group, Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk L39 4QP, UK; (M.J.M.); (S.J.F.)
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Jin P, Ji Z, Wang T, Zhu X. Association between sports expertise and visual attention in male and female soccer players. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16286. [PMID: 37872952 PMCID: PMC10590570 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Visual attention plays a crucial role in daily living and in sports, affecting an athlete's performance and thus, potentially, the outcome of a match. However, studies assessing the association between the level of sports expertise and visual attention have yielded mixed results. This study was conducted to examine whether visual attention could be developed with increased sports expertise, and whether visual attention differed between male athletes and female athletes. Methods A total of 128 participants were included in this study: 64 first-level national soccer athletes recruited from college soccer teams (considered elite athletes; 32 men and 32 women with similar soccer performance requirements and training experience), and 64 physical education college students with limited soccer experience (considered novice athletes; 32 men and 32 women with matched soccer experience). To assess visual attention, we used a multiple object tracking (MOT) task with four targets among a total of 10 objects moving at a fixed speed of 10°/s in random directions across a computer monitor screen. Tracking accuracy on the MOT task was calculated for each participant as the proportion of correctly selected targets. A univariate analysis of variance was performed, with group (expert, novice) and sex (male, female) as independent variables, and tracking accuracy on the MOT task as the dependent variable to assess whether sports expertise or sex influenced visual attention. Simple effects tests followed by comparisons with Bonferroni corrections were used, and effect size calculations were performed using Cohen's f statistic. Results Tracking accuracy on the MOT task was significantly affected by sports expertise (F(1,124) = 91.732, p < 0.001, ηP2 = 0.425), with accuracy among expert soccer athletes superior to that among novice soccer athletes. Moreover, a statistically significant interaction between sports expertise and sex was detected (F(1,124) = 7.046, p = 0.009, η P2= 0.054). Better tracking performance was observed for male soccer players (mean [SD], 0.39 [0.12]) than for female soccer players (mean [SD], 0.27 [0.08]); p < 0.01; d=1.17; r = 0.51) but only in the novice group. No significant sex difference was detected in tracking performance between elite male soccer athletes (mean [SD], 0.51 [0.09]) and elite female soccer athletes (mean [SD], 0.49 [0.11]). Conclusion These findings confirm previous results indicating that long-term extensive sports training develops visual attention as assessed by MOT performance and extend previous findings to include soccer athletes. The findings of a sex difference in visual attention among novice soccer players but not among elite soccer athletes who had similar performance requirements and training experience suggest that long-term extensive training may minimize the sex difference in visual attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Jin
- Department of Physical Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Southeast university research institute of sports science, Nanjing, China
| | - Zheqi Ji
- Department of Physical Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tianyi Wang
- College of Physical education and health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhu
- Department of Physical education, Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics, Nanjing, China
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11
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Fleddermann MT, Reichert L, Wieland B, Zentgraf K. Stop it! Relationship between sport expertise and response inhibition in elite athletes. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1192483. [PMID: 37342635 PMCID: PMC10278942 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1192483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The dynamic structure of sport games forces players to make time-sensitive decisions and to initiate actions that may then have to be canceled in response to sudden changes in the game situation. Whether and up to which time already initiated movements can still be inhibited is an important criterion for game performance in elite sport. Research indicates that elite athletes show superior motor inhibition performance compared to recreational athletes. However, no study has examined whether differences also emerge among professional elite athletes themselves. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether motor inhibition performance is a differential feature among elite athletes, and whether inhibition performance increases with greater expertise. Methods In total of 106 elite athletes (ice hockey, basketball, volleyball, American football, handball, and soccer) completed a PC-based procedure to determine motor inhibition performance using the stop-signal reaction time (SSRT) task for hands and feet. In addition, an expertise score was determined for each elite athlete. Multiple linear regression was used to calculate the relationship between expertise and SSRT. Results Results showed that the expertise score of the elite athletes was between 3.7 and 11.7 out of 16 possible points (MExpertise = 6.8 points, SD = 1.76). The average SSRT of the hands was 224.0 ms (SD = 35.0); of the feet, 257.9 ms (SD = 48.5). Regression results showed a significant relationship between expertise and SSRT (F(2,101) = 9.38, p = 0.04, R2 = 0.06). SSRTs of the hands were significant predictors of expertise (b = -0.23, t = -2.1, p = 0.04). Discussion Taken together, results suggest that elite athletes with higher expertise outperform elite athletes with lower expertise, indicating that it is possible to differentiate within elite athletes with respect to inhibition performance of the hands. However, whether expertise affects inhibition performance or vice versa cannot be answered at present.
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Morrone J, Minini L. The Interlinking of Alpha Waves and Visuospatial Cognition in Motor-Based Domains. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 149:105152. [PMID: 37011777 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
The manner in which we perceive and respond in accordance to the world is encompassed by our ability to process multimodal input stimuli. In other words, in order to perform any task, especially at a high degree of proficiency, high dependence is placed upon our ability to interact with, interpret, and visualize input stimuli from our environment, known as visuospatial cognition (Chueh et al., 2017). This article will explore and encapsulate the importance of visuospatial cognition, in terms of the link it has with the performance of tasks in various fields, such as artistry, musical performance, and athleticism. Alpha wave investigation will be discussed as a means of both identifying and characterizing the degree of performance within these domains. Findings from this investigation may be used as a modality to optimize performance in the explored domains (e.g., with Neurofeedback techniques). The limitations of using Electroencephalography (EEG) to support the enhancement of this task performance and the recommendations to elicit further research, will also be explored.
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Tsigeman ES, Likhanov MV, Budakova AV, Akmalov A, Sabitov I, Alenina E, Bartseva K, Kovas Y. Persistent gender differences in spatial ability, even in STEM experts. Heliyon 2023; 9:e15247. [PMID: 37101649 PMCID: PMC10123158 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Spatial ability (SA) shows wide variability. One proposed explanation for the observed individual difference in SA is variability in interest and engagement in activities that promote spatial ability. Research also robustly shown that males on average outperform females in most aspects of SA. Previous studies have identified a number of activities that can potentially contribute to both individual and gender differences in SA, including tinkering with electronics, particular sports activities, and designing. However, the findings regarding these links are inconsistent. One way to investigate these links is to compare the groups that are intensively engaged with these activities. Aim The present study aims to evaluate the robustness of these links by comparing SA in adolescents with expertise in STEM, arts, and sports, with their unselected peers. We also aimed to assess whether gender differences in SA are still present in expert groups. Methods The data on ten small-scale SA tests was collected in an unselected sample of adolescents (N = 864, Mean age = 15.4, SD = 1.1); as well as in 3 samples of adolescents with expertise in STEM (N = 667, Mean age = 15, SD = 1.2); in Arts (N = 280, Mean age = 15, SD = 1.2) and in Sports (N = 444, Mean age = 14.3, SD = 0.7). Results Out of the three expert groups, only STEM experts on average outperformed the unselected group on all SA tasks. The STEM experts also outperformed Arts and Sports experts. Gender differences persisted in all expert groups, with moderate effect sizes. Discussion Findings support previously established links between spatial ability and STEM-related expertise. In contrast, such links were not found for expertise in arts and sports. Consistent with previous research, we found gender differences in SA for all samples, which persisted in STEM experts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maxim V. Likhanov
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Aydar Akmalov
- Kazan Open University of Talents 2.0, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia
| | | | | | - Ksenia Bartseva
- Laboratory for Social and Cognitive Informatics, Higher School of Economics, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Yulia Kovas
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
- Corresponding author.
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Yuan R, Sun H, Soh KG, Mohammadi A, Toumi Z, Zhang Z. The effects of mental fatigue on sport-specific motor performance among team sport athletes: A systematic scoping review. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1143618. [PMID: 37113120 PMCID: PMC10128192 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1143618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The psychobiological state known as mental fatigue (MF) is by engaging in mentally taxing activities for an extended period, which is typically found in team sports, of the high cognitive demand and unpredictable environment. It increases the perception of effort and influences executive functions, impairing sport-specific performance in athletes. However, the consequences of MF on sport-specific motor performance (SSMP) among athletes in team sports remain unclear. Objective This scoping review seeks to find and map research publications that investigate the effect of MF on SSMP in team sports. Methods Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed were searched as the main databases, and CENTRAL, Psychology, and Behavioral Sciences Collection, SPORTDicus obtained from EBSCOhost, as well as gray literature was searched for relevant literature and Google Scholar. Cognitive tasks before the SSMP exam are the focus of the selected literature on mental exhaustion. Only experiments testing mental and non-mental exhaustion were chosen. Results Twelve studies fulfill the requirement of selection criteria. SSMP in team sports, including soccer, basketball, cricket, and Australian football mainly is examined as physical and technical performance. More specifically, MF significantly influenced physical performance measured as intermittent endurance and total distance (P < 0.05), while data was inclusive when assess in an ecological setting (e.g., small-sided game) (P > 0.05). Technical performance was mainly measured as ball loss, errors in passing and shooting, interception, and successful tackle and showed a dramatic impairment (P < 0.05). The decline of physical activity is relevant with higher level PRE, while decreased technical performance is related to impaired attention resources shown as visual perceptual. Conclusion MF adversely influences SSMP in team sports. The most relevant theory for future study to examine the impacts of MF on team-sport athletes could be the psychological model of exercise and its potential extension on attention resources, rather than the traditional "catastrophe" theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Yuan
- Physical Education Department, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - He Sun
- School of Physical Education, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Kim Geok Soh
- Department of Sport Studies, Faculty of Education Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Alireza Mohammadi
- Faculty of Business Management, City University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Zakaria Toumi
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Zhendong Zhang
- School of Physical Education, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zhendong Zhang
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15
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Mathe N, Millard L, Breukelman GJ, Mathunjwa M. Differences in visio-spatial intelligence between non-athletes and netball players. Front Sports Act Living 2023; 5:1109967. [PMID: 36891127 PMCID: PMC9986416 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2023.1109967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
There is conflicting evidence regarding whether athletes have better visio-spatial skills than non-athletes. This gap may result from athletes' superiority in only some visio-spatial abilities (VSS), rather than all areas of vision. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a significant difference in the visio-spatial intelligence between female netball players (n = 40) and non-athletes (n = 40) when comparing six visual skills (accommodation facility, saccadic eye movement, speed of recognition, peripheral awareness, hand-eye coordination, and visual memory). Following an optometric evaluation, the participants were assessed in six distinct established tests, including the hart near far rock, saccadic eye movement, evasion, accumulator, ball wall toss tests, and flash memory, to evaluate the VSS components of non-athletes and premier league netball players. For five of the six tests, there was a statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) difference between netball players and non-athletes. Conversely, there is no concrete evidence that netball players have better visual memory than non-athletes (p = 0.277). When compared to non-athletes, netball players have significantly improved accommodation facility (p < .001), saccadic eye movements (p < .001), speed of recognition (p < .001), peripheral awareness (p < .001), and hand-eye coordination (p < .001), but not visual memory (p = 0.277). The findings that netball players perform better on a certain VSS have broad ramifications for theories of sport vision, the optimal way to choose tests, and the creation of VSS testing batteries for specific sports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nonkululeko Mathe
- Department of Human Movement Science, University of Zululand, Kwadlangezwa, South Africa
| | - Lourens Millard
- Department of Human Movement Science, University of Zululand, Kwadlangezwa, South Africa
| | - Gerrit Jan Breukelman
- Department of Human Movement Science, University of Zululand, Kwadlangezwa, South Africa
| | - Musa Mathunjwa
- Department of Human Movement Science, University of Zululand, Kwadlangezwa, South Africa
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16
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Khemila S, Romdhani M, Abedelmalek S, Chtourou H, Souissi MA, BenTouati E, Souissi N. The effect of time of day and high intensity exercise on cognitive performances of elite adolescent karate athletes. Chronobiol Int 2022; 39:1542-1553. [PMID: 36268677 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2022.2132165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
To explore the effect of time of day (TOD) on several components of cognitive performance prior and post to a physically exhaustive task in a sample of adolescent elite athletes. In a counterbalanced and randomized order, fourteen highly trained male karate athletes (17 ± 0.96 years; 1.75 ± 0.07 m; 68.0 ± 9.50 kg; BMI 22.15 ± 0.54 kg.m-2) completed two test sessions at 09h00 and 16h00. Cognitive performance was evaluated before and after the karate specific test (KST). During each session, participants completed the profile of mood state (POMS), simple (SRT) and choice (CRT) reaction times, comparison test (COMT), mental rotation test (MRT), egocentric distance estimation (DE), and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE). KST was not TOD dependent (p > .05, d = 0.33). RPE scores were higher in the afternoon compared to the morning (p < .05, d = 0.68). Before the KST, SRT (p < .01, d = 0.69), CRT (p < .01, d = 0.47), COMT (p < .01, d = 0.62) and MRT (p < .001, d = 0.65) were better in the afternoon than in the morning. However, DE was not affected by the TOD (P > .05). KST improved SRT (p < .01, d = 0.078), CRT (p < .001, d = 0.72), COMT (p < .001, d = 1.31) and MRT (p < .001, d = 0.80) performances only in the morning. Cognitive performances are TOD dependent with higher performances realized in the afternoon. Performing a high intensity exercise in the morning, but not in the afternoon, enhanced several aspects of cognitive performances. The current results indicate that an intensive warm-up could be beneficial when a morning competition requires high cognitive readiness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syrine Khemila
- Research Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.,High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar-Saïd, Manouba University, Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Romdhani
- Research Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.,High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.,Motricité-Interactions-Performance, MIP, Le Mans Université, Le Mans, France
| | - Salma Abedelmalek
- Research Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.,High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar-Saïd, Manouba University, Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Hamdi Chtourou
- Research Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.,High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Abdelkader Souissi
- Research Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.,Higher Institute of Education and Continuous Training, Virtual University, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Emna BenTouati
- Research Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.,High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar-Saïd, Manouba University, Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Nizar Souissi
- Research Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.,High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar-Saïd, Manouba University, Manouba, Tunisia
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17
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Jin P, Ge Z, Fan T. Team ball sport experience minimizes sex difference in visual attention. Front Psychol 2022; 13:987672. [PMID: 36312175 PMCID: PMC9606817 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.987672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simultaneous tracking of the position of the ball and player locations and activities places high demands on visual attention in team ball sport athletes. Owing to their extensive sports training, these athletes may be expected to exhibit visual attention skills superior to non-athletes; however, the results of studies examining this are inconsistent. Thus, the first aim of this study was to assess the impact of participating in a team ball sport on visual attention. There is limited empirical evidence indicating a sex difference in visual attention, and few studies have reported on visual attention in male and female athletes. Thus, the second aim of this study was to determine whether team ball sport experience affected any sex differences in visual attention. In total, 44 highly skilled basketball players—22 men (mean age: 21.86 ± 2.15 years) with a mean (SD) of 8.46 (2.92) years training experience and 22 women (mean age: 21.32 ± 1.58 years) with a mean (SD) of 8.22 (2.44) years of training experience—and 44 non-athletic undergraduate college students—22 men (mean age: 21.62 ± 1.88 years) and 22 women (mean age: 21.55 ± 1.72 years)—were recruited and completed this study. Visual attention was measured by using the multiple object tracking (MOT) task. Skilled basketball players showed superior tracking accuracy to non-athletic college students on the MOT task. A significant sex difference was found only among the non-athletic college students, with better tracking accuracy for men than for women on the MOT task. By contrast, no significant sex difference was observed among the skilled basketball players for tracking accuracy on the MOT task. These findings indicated that team ball sport training may enhance visual attention as assessed by tracking accuracy. Given that the male and female basketball players in this study had similar training experience and game performance demands, long-term team ball sport experience appeared to minimize the sex difference in visual attention found among non-athletic students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Jin
- Department of Physical Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Peng Jin,
| | - Zhigang Ge
- Department of Physical Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
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18
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Heilmann F, Weinberg H, Wollny R. The Impact of Practicing Open- vs. Closed-Skill Sports on Executive Functions-A Meta-Analytic and Systematic Review with a Focus on Characteristics of Sports. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12081071. [PMID: 36009134 PMCID: PMC9406193 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12081071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Exercise modes can be categorized based on the skills required (open vs. closed skills), which implicates various demands on cognitive skills, especially executive functions (EFs). Thus, their practice may have varying effects on EFs. There is a lack of detailed analysis of cognitive requirements and suitable classification of sports. It is hypothesized that the amount and type of cognitive requirements of sports lead to small effect sizes when comparing open-skill exercising (OSE) and closed-skill exercising (CSE) athletes. The current meta-analysis evaluates the variances in EFs skills caused by particular sport modes. Four research databases (Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, PsychINFO) were searched for cross-sectional studies in which the authors compare the performance in EF tasks of OSE and CSE athletes. Risk of bias assessment was conducted using funnel plots and two reviewer selection process (overall and subgroup analysis; low risk of publication and selection bias). A total of 19 studies were included, revealing an overall effect size of Hedge’s g = 0.174 (p = 0.157), favoring OSE for the development of EFs. The subgroup analysis revealed the effects for the subdomains of EFs (cognitive flexibility: Hedge’s g = 0.210 > inhibitory control: Hedge’s g = 0.191 > working memory: Hedge’s g = 0.138; p > 0.05), which could be characterized as low to moderate. The hypothesis that studies with the smallest effect sizes compare sport modes with similar cognitive demands was rejected. The paper discusses the differentiation of sports into OSE and CSE and presents new approaches for their categorization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Heilmann
- Movement Science Lab, Institute of Sport Science, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-345-55-24454
| | - Henrietta Weinberg
- Movement and Sport Psychology, Institute for Sport Science, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, 07749 Jena, Germany
| | - Rainer Wollny
- Movement Science Lab, Institute of Sport Science, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
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19
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Wang Y, Ji Q, Zhou C, Wang Y. Brain mechanisms linking language processing and open motor skill training. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:911894. [PMID: 35992938 PMCID: PMC9386041 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.911894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the discovery of a distributed language and motor functional network, surprisingly few studies have explored whether language processing is related to motor skill training. To address this issue, the present study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to compare whole-brain activation between nonexperts and experts in table tennis, an open skill sport in which players make rapid decisions in response to an ever-changing environment. Whole-brain activation was assessed in 30 expert table tennis players with more than 7 years’ experience and 35 age-matched nonexpert college students while they performed both a size and a semantic judgment task of words presented on a monitor. Compared with nonexperts, expert table tennis players showed greater activation in the left middle occipital gyrus and right precuneus while judging the size of the words versus during baseline fixation. They also showed greater activation in the left lingual gyrus during the semantic judgment task versus during baseline fixation. Our findings indicate that the visual regions engaged in language processing are associated with open motor skill training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Wang
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingchun Ji
- Department of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenglin Zhou
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingying Wang
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yingying Wang,
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20
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Sun H, Soh KG, Xu X. Nature Scenes Counter Mental Fatigue-Induced Performance Decrements in Soccer Decision-Making. Front Psychol 2022; 13:877844. [PMID: 35572319 PMCID: PMC9105021 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.877844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background It has been well investigated that nature exposure intervention can restore directed attention and improve subsequent cognitive performance. The impairment of decision-making skills in mentally fatigued soccer players was attributed to the inability of attention allocation. However, nature exposure as the potential intervention to counter mental fatigue and improve the subsequent decision-making skill in soccer players has never been investigated. Objects This study aimed to evaluate the effects of nature exposure intervention on decision-making skills among mentally fatigued university soccer players. Moreover, different durations of nature exposure were also evaluated. Methods A random control between-subject design was adopted. Players were randomly assigned into six groups with three different durations of the experimental group compared with the corresponding control group (4.17 min: Exp 1 vs. Con 1; 8.33 min: Exp 2 vs. Con 2; and 12.50 min: Exp 3 vs. Con 3). All players were first mentally fatigued by performing a 45-min Stroop task; then, they viewed virtual photos of natural or urban scenes; and finally, they performed a soccer decision-making task. Results The subjective ratings of mental fatigue were significantly higher following the Stroop task. Only Exp 3 (12.50 min viewing natural scenes) significantly improved decision-making reaction time compared with Con 3 (p = 0.09). Moreover, the accuracy slightly increased in Exp 3 after the intervention. Conclusion In line with attention restoration theory, nature exposure significantly improved decision-making skills in mentally fatigue university players. However, the duration must be 12.50 min for each stimulus to stay longer to attract involuntary attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Sun
- Department of Sport Studies, Faculty of Education Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Kim Geok Soh
- Department of Sport Studies, Faculty of Education Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Xiaowei Xu
- Sports Education Centre, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China
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21
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Krause D, Weigelt M. Mental Rotation of Tactic Board Instructions in Basketball: Domain-Specific Expertise Improves On-Court Performance. RESEARCH QUARTERLY FOR EXERCISE AND SPORT 2022:1-10. [PMID: 35426763 DOI: 10.1080/02701367.2021.2022587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: In basketball, tactical instructions are presented on tactic boards under temporal constraints (e.g., time-outs). Based on the disparity in the orientation of the tactic board and the players' egocentric on-court visual perspective, there are high affordances in visual-spatial transformation (e.g., mental rotation), which impede information processing and decrease execution accuracy. The aim of this study was to scrutinize how the effect of different orientations of visual tactical displays on information processing demands and execution accuracy is affected by expertise in basketball. Methods: In a mixed-factors-design with two factors, 48 participants were assigned to a group of experienced basketball players (n = 24) and novices (n = 24). They were instructed to execute basketball playing patterns, which were presented on a virtual tactic board in five different spatial disparities to the players' on-court perspective. Results: The self-controlled time for watching the instructions before execution was significantly shorter and spatial accuracy in pattern execution was significantly higher for lower disparities between instruction perspective and on-court perspective. Experienced basketball players displayed shorter observation times as well as higher accuracy as a global effect, being independent of stimulus orientation. Moreover, the effect of orientation on observation times was lower in the experienced group as compared to the novices. Conclusion: Extensive experience over several years with visuo-spatial transformations of tactical instructions reduced, but not eliminated, the effects of model-observer disparity. Accordingly, coaches should align their tactic boards to their players' on-court viewing perspective to enable fast processing and errorless execution of tactical instructions.
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22
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Feraco T, Meneghetti C. Sport Practice, Fluid Reasoning, and Soft Skills in 10- to 18-Year-Olds. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:857412. [PMID: 35360291 PMCID: PMC8963902 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.857412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Engaging in physical activity and sports has been associated with various cognitive abilities and other personal characteristics. The contemporary link between doing sports and personal attributes such as soft skills and an individual’s cognitive abilities have yet to be investigated, however. This study aims to analyze the association between years of practicing a sport, cognitive abilities (in terms of fluid reasoning), and personal attributes (in terms of soft skills). A large sample of 1,115 individuals (10–18 years old) completed the Cattell test (measuring fluid reasoning) and answered a questionnaire measuring six soft skills (adaptability, curiosity, initiative, leadership, perseverance, and social awareness). A multivariate regression analysis show that, after controlling for age and gender, participants’ years of practicing a sport were positively associated with three soft skills (i.e., initiative, leadership, and perseverance) and with fluid reasoning. No differences emerged between team and individual sport practitioners. Our findings suggest an association between practicing sports, which entails more than just physical activity, and both cognitive abilities (fluid reasoning) and other important personal characteristics, such as soft skills.
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23
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Jolles J, Jolles DD. On Neuroeducation: Why and How to Improve Neuroscientific Literacy in Educational Professionals. Front Psychol 2021; 12:752151. [PMID: 34925156 PMCID: PMC8678470 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.752151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
New findings from the neurosciences receive much interest for use in the applied field of education. For the past 15 years, neuroeducation and the application of neuroscience knowledge were seen to have promise, but there is presently some lack of progress. The present paper states that this is due to several factors. Neuromyths are still prevalent, and there is a confusion of tongues between the many neurodisciplines and the domains of behavioral and educational sciences. Second, a focus upon cognitive neuroimaging research has yielded findings that are scientifically relevant, but cannot be used for direct application in the classroom. A third factor pertains to the emphasis which has been on didactics and teaching, whereas the promise of neuroeducation for the teacher may lie more on pedagogical inspiration and support. This article states that the most important knowledge and insights have to do with the notion of brain plasticity; the vision that development is driven by an interaction between a person's biology and the social system. This helps individuals to select and process information, and to adapt to the personal environment. The paper describes how brain maturation and neuropsychological development extend through the important period of adolescence and emergent adulthood. Over this long period, there is a major development of the Executive Functions (EFs) that are essential for both cognitive learning, social behavior and emotional processing and, eventually, personal growth. The paper describes the basic neuroscience knowledge and insights - or "neuroscientific literacy" - that the educational professional should have to understand and appreciate the above-described themes. The authors formulate a proposal for four themes of neuroscience content "that every teacher should know." These four themes are based on the Neuroscience Core Concepts formulated by the Society for Neuroscience. The authors emphasize that integrating neuroscientific knowledge and insights in the field of education should not be a one-way street; attempts directed at improving neuroscientific literacy are a transdisciplinary undertaking. Teacher trainers, experts from the neuroscience fields but also behavioral scientists from applied fields (notable applied neuropsychologists) should all contribute to for the educational innovations needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelle Jolles
- Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dietsje D. Jolles
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Institute of Education and Child Studies, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
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24
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Sun H, Soh KG, Roslan S, Wazir MRWN, Soh KL. Does mental fatigue affect skilled performance in athletes? A systematic review. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258307. [PMID: 34648555 PMCID: PMC8516214 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mental fatigue is a psychobiological state induced by a prolonged duration of demanding cognitive tasks. The effects of mental fatigue on physical performance have been well investigated in the literature. However, the effect of mental fatigue on skilled performance in sports remains unclear. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to report a comprehensive systematic review investigating the carryover effects of mental fatigue on skilled performance among athletes. METHODS A thorough search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCOhost (CENTRAL, SPORTDicus), and Scopus to select relevant literature, as well as on Google Scholar and sources of reference for grey literature. The selected literatures are centred on a mental fatigue protocol in which cognitive tasks are performed prior to athletic tasks. Only studies that used an experimental design to test two conditions, namely mental fatigue and non-mental fatigue, were selected. RESULTS Eleven articles were chosen based on the selection criteria. Mental fatigue affects skilled performance in three sports: soccer, basketball, and table tennis. A decline in skilled performance (decreased accuracy, increased performing time etc) is relevant to impaired executive functions. Seven studies focus on offensive skills, whereas only two studies are associated with defensive skills. CONCLUSION Mental fatigue has a negative effect on various sports skills of high-level athletes, including their technical and decision-making skills; however, the impact is greater on offensive skills than that of defensive skills in terms of the role of athletes. Impaired executive functions may be responsible for the negative effects of mental fatigue on skilled performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Sun
- Department of Sport Studies, Faculty of Education Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Kim Geok Soh
- Department of Sport Studies, Faculty of Education Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Samsilah Roslan
- Department of Foundation of Education, Faculty of Education Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Kim Lam Soh
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
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Krause D, Richert B, Weigelt M. Neurophysiology of embodied mental rotation: Event-related potentials in a mental rotation task with human bodies as compared to alphanumeric stimuli. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:5384-5403. [PMID: 34241932 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The present study examines if the neural signature of information processing in mental rotation tasks is moderated by stimulus characteristics (e.g., body-related vs. non-body-related stimuli). In the present experiment, stimulus sets of human figures (back view; left vs. right arm abduction) and alphanumeric characters ('R'; normal vs. mirrored view) were scrutinized with event-related potentials (ERPs) in the electroencephalography (EEG). Participants had to judge parity between an upright (0° orientation) and a comparison stimulus (stimulus disparity; 0°, 45°, 90°, 135° or 180°). There was a main effect of stimulus disparity for the behavioural (response time and error rates), as well as for the neural data (rotation-related negativity, RRN). The interaction of stimulus disparity and stimulus type was significant for the RRN, but not for the response time. Lower RRN amplitudes for letters indicate a more pronounced use of alternative processes (e.g., memory retrieval), which seems to be reflected in higher N350 amplitudes. Moreover, the increase of the RRN amplitude and the increase in response time as a function of disparity were positively correlated. Task differences were evident for several ERP components (i.e., N150, P150 and N250), being independent of disparity, which might reflect differences in early and late object cognition prior to the mental rotation process itself. This might be associated with the task-dependent activation of embodied cognition processes in mental rotation tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Krause
- Psychology and Movement Science, Department of Sport and Health, Faculty of Science, Paderborn University, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Benjamin Richert
- Psychology and Movement Science, Department of Sport and Health, Faculty of Science, Paderborn University, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Matthias Weigelt
- Psychology and Movement Science, Department of Sport and Health, Faculty of Science, Paderborn University, Paderborn, Germany
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26
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Morawietz C, Muehlbauer T. Effects of Physical Exercise Interventions on Spatial Orientation in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Scoping Review. Front Sports Act Living 2021; 3:664640. [PMID: 34222859 PMCID: PMC8247469 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2021.664640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Regular physical exercise plays an integral part in the psychomotor and psychosocial development of children and adolescents, with complex motor and cognitive processes closely linked. Spatial abilities, one aspect of cognitive functioning start to evolve from earliest childhood and reach adult-like levels by early adolescence. As they have been associated with good spatial orientation, wayfinding, map-reading skills, problem solving or analyzing spatial information, these skills facilitate independence and autonomy while growing up. Despite promising results, only few studies investigate this relation between physical exercise and spatial abilities. To use this benefit and develop purposive physical exercise interventions, it is essential to summarize the current evidence. Objectives: This literature review aims to systematically summarize findings regarding the impact of physical exercise interventions on spatial abilities in healthy children and adolescents and identify knowledge gaps. Methods: A systematic search of the literature according to the PRISMA guidelines was conducted on the databases Pubmed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, SportDiscus, and PsycInfo from their inception date till March 2021. Additionally, Google Scholar and refence lists of relevant publications were searched. A descriptive analysis of results was conducted. Results: The literature search identified a total of N = 1,215 records, 11 of which met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in this review. A total of 621 participants aged 4 to 15 years participated in the studies. Exercise interventions included sport-specific activities, motor-coordinative exercises, high-intensity functional training or spatial orientation/navigation training. Five studies evaluated training effects on mental rotation performance (i.e., Mental Rotation Test), four studies investigated visuo-spatial working memory function/spatial memory (i.e., Corsi Block Test, Virtual Reality Morris Water Maze) and two studies tested spatial orientation capacity (i.e., Orientation-Running Test). Overall, results show a potential for improvement of spatial abilities through physical exercise interventions. However, keeping the diversity of study designs, populations and outcomes in mind, findings need to be interpreted with care. Conclusions: Despite growing interest on the effects of physical exercise interventions on spatial abilities and promising findings of available studies, evidence to date remains limited. Future research is needed to establish how spatial ability development of healthy children and adolescents can be positively supported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Morawietz
- Division of Movement and Training Sciences/Biomechanics of Sport, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Feng T, Li Y. The Time Course of Event-Related Brain Potentials in Athletes' Mental Rotation With Different Spatial Transformations. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:675446. [PMID: 34211377 PMCID: PMC8239182 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.675446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies have found that athletes outperformed non-athletes in mental rotation tasks with both object-based and egocentric transformations (ET), but the effect of sport expertise on the processing stages (i.e., perceptual stage, rotation stage, and decision stage) remains conflicted. Bearing the view that the stages occur sequentially and the high temporal resolution of event-related brain potentials, this study focused on brain processing during mental rotation and was designed to determine the time course of electrophysiological changes in athletes and non-athletes. A total of 42 divers and non-athletes were recruited for the study. A mental body rotation task with object-based and egocentric transformation conditions was conducted, and the reaction time (RT), accuracy, performance stages, N2 latency, amplitude, and the amplitude of rotation-related negativity (RRN) were recorded. Behavioral results demonstrated higher accuracy for athletes at 120° and 180°. Moreover, as compared to non-athletes, the enlarged amplitude of N2 and RRN were confirmed in both transformations for athletes and were correlated with the performance stages and athletes' professional training years. The present study provided a deeper insight into the relationship between sports training, behavior performance, and brain activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Feng
- Department of Social Sports, Physical Education College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yawei Li
- Department of Sports, Physical Education College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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28
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Pietsch S, Jansen P. Motor affordance or gender-stereotyped nature of physical activity – what is more important for the mental rotation performance of female athletes? JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/20445911.2021.1931242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Pietsch
- Faculty of Human Science, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Petra Jansen
- Faculty of Human Science, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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29
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Individual difference predictors of learning and generalization in perceptual learning. Atten Percept Psychophys 2021; 83:2241-2255. [PMID: 33723726 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-021-02268-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Given appropriate training, human observers typically demonstrate clear improvements in performance on perceptual tasks. However, the benefits of training frequently fail to generalize to other tasks, even those that appear similar to the trained task. A great deal of research has focused on the training task characteristics that influence the extent to which learning generalizes. However, less is known about what might predict the considerable individual variations in performance. As such, we conducted an individual differences study to identify basic cognitive abilities and/or dispositional traits that predict an individual's ability to learn and/or generalize learning in tasks of perceptual learning. We first showed that the rate of learning and the asymptotic level of performance that is achieved in two different perceptual learning tasks (motion direction and odd-ball texture detection) are correlated across individuals, as is the degree of immediate generalization that is observed and the rate at which a generalization task is learned. This indicates that there are indeed consistent individual differences in perceptual learning abilities. We then showed that several basic cognitive abilities and dispositional traits are associated with an individual's ability to learn (e.g., simple reaction time; sensitivity to punishment) and/or generalize learning (e.g., cognitive flexibility; openness to experience) in perceptual learning tasks. We suggest that the observed individual difference relationships may provide possible targets for future intervention studies meant to increase perceptual learning and generalization.
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30
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Donnan K, Williams EL, Stanger N. The Effects of Heat Exposure During Intermittent Exercise on Physical and Cognitive Performance Among Team Sport Athletes. Percept Mot Skills 2020; 128:439-466. [PMID: 33076764 PMCID: PMC7859587 DOI: 10.1177/0031512520966522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of heat exposure on physical and
cognitive performance during an intermittent exercise protocol so as
to reflect the incremental fatigue experienced during team sports.
Twelve well-trained male team sport players completed an 80-minute
cycling intermittent sprint protocol (CISP), alongside computerized
vigilance and congruent (i.e., simple) and incongruent (i.e., complex)
Stroop tasks of cognitive functioning, in two counterbalanced
temperature conditions; hot (32°C[50%rh]) and control (18°C[50%rh]).
Incongruent Stroop accuracy declined over time
(p = .002), specifically in the second
(Mdiff = –3.75,
SD = 0.90%, p = .009) and
third (Mdiff = –4.58,
SD = 1.22%, p = .019) quarters
compared to the first quarter of the CISP; but there were no
differences between temperature conditions. Congruent Stroop reaction
time (RT) was quicker in the second quarter of exercise in the hot
condition (M = 561.99,
SD = 112.93 ms) compared to the control condition
(M=617.80, SD = 139.71 ms;
p = .022), but no differences were found for
congruent Stroop accuracy nor vigilance measures. Additionally, peak
power output was lower during the third quarter of the CISP in the hot
condition (M = 861.31,
SD = 105.20 W) compared to the control condition
(M = 900.68, SD = 114.84 W;
p < .001). Plasma normetanephrine and
metanephrine concentrations increased from pre- to post-CISP
(Mdiff = +616.90,
SD = 306.99, p < .001; and
Mdiff = +151.23,
SD = 130.32, p = .002,
respectively), with a marginal interaction suggesting a higher
normetanephrine increase from pre- to post-CISP in the hot versus the
control condition (p = .070). Our findings suggest
that accuracy for more complex decisions suffered during prolonged
high-intensity intermittent exercise, perhaps due to exercise-induced
catecholamine increases. Athletes may have also reduced physical
effort under increased heat exposure, indicating how cognitive
performance may be sustained in physically demanding environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Donnan
- Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Emily L Williams
- Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas Stanger
- Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom
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31
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Jin P, Li X, Ma B, Guo H, Zhang Z, Mao L. Dynamic visual attention characteristics and their relationship to match performance in skilled basketball players. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9803. [PMID: 32879809 PMCID: PMC7443082 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dynamic visual attention is important in basketball because it may affect the performance of players and thus the match outcome. The goals of this study were to investigate the difference in dynamic visual attention characteristics between highly skilled basketball players and nonathletic college students and to explore the relationship between visual attention and game-related performance among the basketball players. Methods In total, 24 highly skilled basketball players and 24 nonathletic college students participated in a multiple object tracking task. The task was conducted so that either the number of targets that were visually tracked or the speed at which a given number of tracked targets moved was altered to examine the difference in dynamic visual attention characteristics between the basketball players and nonathletic college students. The relationship between visual tracking speed (VTS) and game-related statistics, including assists, steals, mistakes, fouls and points scored recorded for every match during the season, was assessed among the basketball players by using Pearson correlations. Results A significant main effect of target tracking load was observed (P < 0.001), with visual tracking performance significantly decreased as target number increased. In addition, the speed at which the targets moved had a significant effect on visual tracking performance (P < 0.001), with tracking performance significantly decreased as target speed increased. However, no significant difference was observed in the abilities of basketball players and nonathletic college students to simultaneously track up to six targets. By contrast, a significant interaction between group and target speed was found (P < 0.001), with the visual tracking accuracy of basketball players significantly greater than that of college students at the higher target speeds examined (P < 0.001). Among basketball players, there were positive, large, and statistically significant correlations in the accuracy in VTS trials and the number of assists (P < 0.001) and between the accuracy in VTS trials and the number of steals (P < 0.001). Conclusion The advantage of skilled basketball players to handle dynamic visual information in a multiple object tracking task was not attributable to the target number but to the target speed. Those athletes with greater dynamic visual attention were more likely to successfully assist or to steal the ball, enhancing performance of the athlete as well as contributing to a more successful team match. These findings may inform basketball training programs to improve player and team performances during matches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Jin
- School of Physical Education and Training, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.,Department of Physical Education, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiawen Li
- School of Physical Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Ma
- College of Physical Education Science, Anshan Normal University, Anshan, China
| | - Hongbo Guo
- Department of Physical Education, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhongxi Zhang
- Physical Education College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lijuan Mao
- School of Physical Education and Training, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
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32
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Moen F, Olsen M, Hrozanova M. Associations Between Sleep Patterns and Performance Development Among Norwegian Chess Players. Front Psychol 2020; 11:1855. [PMID: 32849090 PMCID: PMC7401575 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
An inherent part of elite-level chess are high emotional and cognitive stress loads related to performance development. Sleep is a crucial recovery strategy, previously implicated in athletic performance. The main purpose of the current study was to investigate the associations between performance development and objectively measured sleep in a sample of 14 Norwegian chess players over a period of 120 consecutive days. Seven of the chess players in the current sample had negative development in their International Chess Federation (FIDE) ranking score in the period of sleep monitoring, while 7 had positive development. The sleep patterns of the chess players with positive performance development were different from the players with negative development - with higher amounts of deep sleep, less rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and lower respiration rate in the positive performance development group compared to the negative performance development group. The findings are discussed in terms of existing knowledge on the importance of sleep stage distribution and sleep durations for athlete functioning, and in light of applied implications and possible future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frode Moen
- Department of Education and Lifelong Learning, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Centre for Elite Sports Research, Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Maja Olsen
- Centre for Elite Sports Research, Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Maria Hrozanova
- Centre for Elite Sports Research, Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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33
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Garrido-Palomino I, Fryer S, Giles D, González-Rosa JJ, España-Romero V. Attentional Differences as a Function of Rock Climbing Performance. Front Psychol 2020; 11:1550. [PMID: 32793035 PMCID: PMC7391793 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between attention (using two different attention tasks) and self-reported climbing ability while considering potential confounding factors (sex, age, climbing experience, and cardiorespiratory fitness) in a group of experienced climbers. Accuracy of response (AC) and reaction time (RT) from two different attention tasks using the Vienna Test System, along with self-reported on-sight and red-point climbing ability, were assessed in 35 climbers. Linear regression revealed that climbers with the highest self-reported on-sight grade had better AC during the attention task. Linear regression models revealed, after controlling for potential confounders, that AC, measured using two attention tasks, was positively related to climbers' highest self-reported on-sight climbing ability (β = 0.388; p = 0.031). No significant differences were found between AC and self-reported red-point climbing ability (β = 0.286; p = 0.064). No significant relationship was found between RT and climbing ability (β = -0.102 to 0.020; p = 0.064). In conclusion, higher-level rock climbers appear to have an enhanced attention, which is related to on-sight lead climbing style, and thus, it may be an important component of climbing performance. Coaches should consider incorporating techniques to train attention based on on-sight climbing style in climbers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada Garrido-Palomino
- MOVE-IT Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Simon Fryer
- School of Sport and Exercise, University of Gloucestershire, Gloucester, United Kingdom
| | - Dave Giles
- Lattice Training Ltd., Chesterfield, United Kingdom
| | - Javier J. González-Rosa
- Neuroimaging and Psychophysiology Group, Department of Psychology, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cádiz (INiBICA), Puerta del Mar University Hospital, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Vanesa España-Romero
- MOVE-IT Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cádiz (INiBICA), Puerta del Mar University Hospital, Cádiz, Spain
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34
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Vestberg T, Jafari R, Almeida R, Maurex L, Ingvar M, Petrovic P. Level of play and coach-rated game intelligence are related to performance on design fluency in elite soccer players. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9852. [PMID: 32587269 PMCID: PMC7316809 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66180-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Executive brain functions are innate mechanisms for regulating behavior. While the impact of suboptimal executive functions has been characterized in patients, their contribution to individual success has not been elucidated. We set out to understand how executive functions relate to successful human behavior by examining their relation to game intelligence in sport - the ability to read a game and quickly adapt the behavior. In elite soccer players (n = 51), those playing in national teams (national team players) significantly outperformed those only playing at premier league level (premier league players) in Design Fluency (DF), a complex visuo-spatial executive function test that includes measures of creativity and cognitive flexibility. Their result showed a moderate correlation with coach rated game intelligence, remained also when correcting for low level cognitive capacity and was most evident when considering cognitive flexibility. DF capacity also correlated with number of assists made during the season but not with number of made goals during the same period, linking the fast planning of several steps in DF to fast planning of several steps in the soccer game. Altogether, our data suggests that DF capacity relates to success in soccer both on a subjective and on an objective level.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Vestberg
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - R Jafari
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - R Almeida
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Stockholm University, Brain Imaging Center, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - L Maurex
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Ingvar
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - P Petrovic
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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35
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Increased interhemispheric synchrony underlying the improved athletic performance of rowing athletes by transcranial direct current stimulation. Brain Imaging Behav 2020; 13:1324-1332. [PMID: 30145715 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-018-9948-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
To explore the mechanism of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the improved performance of professional rowing athletes. Twelve male professional rowing athletes were randomly divided into two groups (low-stimulation group, 1 mA, n = 6; high-stimulation group, 2 mA, n = 6), and they accepted tDCS for two consecutive weeks while undergoing regular training (20 min each time, five times a week, totally ten times). The assessments of depression, anxiety, executive function, fatigue perception, lactate threshold power (LTP) and isokinetic muscle strength as well as the collection of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were performed at baseline and at follow-up (the end of the fourth week). The voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) value was calculated in the whole brain. After stimulation, there were significant increases in executive function and athletic performance. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis indicated time factor, stimulation intensity factor had a main effect on LTP and 60RK, respectively. There was no significant difference of VMHC value between the high- and low-stimulation groups at baseline. Comparing with low-stimulation group, significant increased VMHC values of the bilateral middle temporal gyrus (MTG), precentral gyrus and superior frontal gyrus (SFG) were found in high-stimulation group at follow-up. Correlation analyses showed that in high-stimulation group, the VMHC values of bilateral MTG and SFG were both positively correlated with the measures of athletic performance. tDCS may contribute to the improvement of athletic performance in professional rowing athletes, and the increased interhemispheric coordination may be involved in the mechanism of the improved athletic performance.
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36
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Moya-Vergara F, Curotto-Berruezo D, Valladares-Arellano P, Arriaza-Ardiles E, Valverde-Esteve T, García-Manso J. Evaluation of visual-motor reaction time and quality of response in rugby sevens players after the application of a neurocognitive training programme. INT J PERF ANAL SPOR 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/24748668.2019.1691814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F. Moya-Vergara
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Actividad Física y Deporte, Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte, Universidad de Playa Ancha, Chile
- Magíster en Educación, Facultad de Ciencias Humanas, Universidad Arturo Prat, Chile
| | | | | | - E. Arriaza-Ardiles
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Actividad Física y Deporte, Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte, Universidad de Playa Ancha, Chile
- Centro de Prevención y Rehabilitación Kinesiológica Kinelite, Chile
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados CEA, Universidad de Playa Ancha, Chile
| | - T. Valverde-Esteve
- Faculty of Teaching, Department of Didactics of Musical, Visual and Body Expression, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - J.M. García-Manso
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y el Deporte., Universidad de la Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
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37
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Feng T, Li Y, Ji Z, Zhang Z. The Role of Time Constraints in Athletes' Egocentric Mental Rotation Performance. Adv Cogn Psychol 2019; 15:225-235. [PMID: 32395189 PMCID: PMC7204408 DOI: 10.5709/acp-0270-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A selective effect of motor expertise on mental rotation is revealed by a high correlation between the performance of sports experts and ability on a mental rotation task. Evidence is shown by studies involving a spatial factor, such as image interference or a movement constraint. Alternatively, the time constraint, as another performance factor, is considered critical in the effect of sport expertise on mental rotation. Three experiments were conducted to examine the role of time constraints in egocentric mental rotation and the stage performance of athletes (divers) and nonathletes. In Experiment 1, an egocentric mental rotation task in an untimed condition was conducted, and reaction times (RTs), error rates (ERs), RTs at 0 °, and mental rotation speed were assessed. The results indicated that divers outperformed nonathletes in terms of RT, as well as perceptual and decision stages and rotation stages. Experiments 2 and 3 added a relative time constraint (subtracting 1/2 SD of all the subjects' RT from the M of each group's RT) and an absolute time constraint (subtracting 1/2 SD of all the subjects' RT from the M of all the subjects' RT) to the task, respectively. Superior RT and lower ER were observed for the divers in the time constraint condition. Moreover, the results illustrated that divers were faster than nonathletes in both stages when facing time pressure. In general, the present study has, for the first time, confirmed the role of time in the relationship between sports expertise and mental rotation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Feng
- Physical Education College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yawei Li
- Physical Education College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhiguang Ji
- Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Science, Shanghai, China
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38
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Heppe H, Zentgraf K. Team Handball Experts Outperform Recreational Athletes in Hand and Foot Response Inhibition: A Behavioral Study. Front Psychol 2019; 10:971. [PMID: 31133925 PMCID: PMC6524689 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibition is a central component of human behavior. It enables flexible and adaptive behavior by suppressing prepotent motor responses. In former studies, it has been shown that sport athletes acting in dynamic environments exhibit superior motor inhibitory control based on sensory stimuli. So far, existing studies have corroborated this in manual motor response settings only. Therefore, this study addresses the effector specificity of the inhibition benefit in elite athletes compared to physically active controls. A sport-unspecific stop-signal task has been adapted for hand as well as feet usage and 30 elite handball players as well as 30 controls were tested. A repeated-measures ANOVA with the two factors “effector” (hands, feet) and “group” (expert, recreational athletes) was conducted. Our results suggest no group differences in two-choice response times, but a convincing superiority of handball players in inhibitory control (i.e., shorter stop-signal reaction times), predominantly when responding with their hands, with weaker differential effects when responding with their feet. This suggests that motor inhibition might be a comprehensive performance characteristic of sport athletes acting in dynamic environments, detectable predominantly in eye-hand coordination tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger Heppe
- Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Human Performance and Training, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Karen Zentgraf
- Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Human Performance and Training, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Department of Movement Science and Training in Sports, Institute of Sport Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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Meng FW, Yao ZF, Chang EC, Chen YL. Team sport expertise shows superior stimulus-driven visual attention and motor inhibition. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0217056. [PMID: 31091297 PMCID: PMC6519903 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies on athletes' cognitive functions have reported superior performance on tasks measuring attention and sensorimotor abilities. However, how types of sports training shapes cognitive profile remains to be further explored. In this study, we recruited elite athletes specialized in badminton (N = 35, female = 12) and volleyball (N = 29, female = 13), as well as healthy adult controls (N = 27, female = 17) who had not receive any regular sports training. All participants completed cognitive assessments on spatial attention, sensory memory, cognitive flexibility, motor inhibition, and the attention networks. The results showed that athletes generally showed superior performance on selective cognitive domains compared to healthy controls. Specifically, compared to the healthy control, volleyball players showed superior on iconic memory, inhibitory control of action, and attentional alerting, whereas badminton players showed advantages on iconic memory and basic processing speed. Overall, volleyball players outperformed badminton players on those tasks require stimulus-driven visual attention and motor inhibition, likely due to different training modalities and characteristics of specialty that involves even more complex cognitive processes. To conclude, our findings suggest cognitive plasticity may drive by sports training in team/individual sports expertise, manifesting cognitive profile in sport expertise with distinct training modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan-Wu Meng
- Graduate Institute of Sports Training, University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
- Office of Physical Education, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Zai-Fu Yao
- Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erik Chihhung Chang
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Liang Chen
- Graduate Institute of Sports Training, University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
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Pietsch S, Jansen P, Lehmann J. The Choice of Sports Affects Mental Rotation Performance in Adolescents. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:224. [PMID: 30918482 PMCID: PMC6424906 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigates mental rotation performance of adolescent female dancers and soccer players in object-based and egocentric mental rotation tasks using human body stimuli. 60 young females, 30 soccer players, and 30 dancers (not twosome), completed a chronometric mental rotation task with object-based and egocentric transformation of male and female figures, which were displayed either in front or back view. During their sport-specific activity soccer-players and dancers very often have to adapt their movements to the movement of a partner or opponent, soccer-players especially in front view positions. While for soccer-players reaction time (RT) often is crucial for sporting success, dancers mainly focus on the accuracy of their movements. Therefore, we expect significantly faster RTs for soccer players for front view stimuli but no differences between soccer players and dancers for back view stimuli. The main result was that soccer-players showed a significantly shorter RT than dancers for stimuli presented in front view in object based and egocentric transformation. There was no such difference, when the stimuli were presented in the back view. Contrary to literature we didn't find significantly higher RTs and error rates for stimuli presented in front view compared to back view in general but only for egocentric transformations. The results of this study show that specific sports affect individual aspects of mental rotation performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Pietsch
- Institute of Sport Science, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Petra Jansen
- Institute of Sport Science, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jennifer Lehmann
- Institute of Sport Science, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Ballester R, Huertas F, Pablos-Abella C, Llorens F, Pesce C. Chronic participation in externally paced, but not self-paced sports is associated with the modulation of domain-general cognition. Eur J Sport Sci 2019; 19:1110-1119. [PMID: 30786834 DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2019.1580318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The present study investigated the role of chronic sport participation in the modulation of vigilance and inhibitory control. We also aimed to disentangle the relative contribution of different types of sport expertise and sport-related fitness to the exercise-cognition relationship. Three groups of young adults differing in their chronic sport expertise (externally-paced sports, n = 22, self-paced sports, n = 22, non-athletes, n = 22) took part in the study. Participants completed a cardiovascular fitness test, a hand-eye coordination test and two different types of vigilance tasks: (1) Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) and (2) Oddball Task, which were designed to gain insight into the cognitive processes involved in sustaining attention over time and allocating selective attention by exerting inhibitory control, respectively. No differences were found in PVT performance between the two athlete groups and between self-paced sports athletes and non-athletes, whereas athletes from externally-paced sports outperformed non-athletes. Crucially, athletes from externally-paced sports also differed from those of self-paced sports and non-athletes in the Oddball task, showing less omission and commission errors. The sport expertise effect was independent of participant's cardiovascular fitness while hand-eye coordination modulated vigilance and inhibitory control performance. Our findings add novel empirical evidence to the role of expertise in cognitively demanding sports as an important factor in the relationship between exercise and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Ballester
- a Department of Athletic Training , Universidad Católica de Valencia "San Vicente Mártir" , Valencia , Spain
| | - Florentino Huertas
- a Department of Athletic Training , Universidad Católica de Valencia "San Vicente Mártir" , Valencia , Spain
| | - Carlos Pablos-Abella
- a Department of Athletic Training , Universidad Católica de Valencia "San Vicente Mártir" , Valencia , Spain
| | - Francesc Llorens
- b Department of Education , Valencian International University , Valencia , Spain
| | - Caterina Pesce
- c Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences , Italian University Sport and Movement "Foro Italico" , Rome , Italy
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Scharfen H, Memmert D. Measurement of cognitive functions in experts and elite athletes: A meta‐analytic review. APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/acp.3526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hans‐Erik Scharfen
- Institute of Exercise Training and Sport InformaticsGerman Sport University Cologne Cologne Germany
| | - Daniel Memmert
- Institute of Exercise Training and Sport InformaticsGerman Sport University Cologne Cologne Germany
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Moè A, Jansen P, Pietsch S. Childhood preference for spatial toys. Gender differences and relationships with mental rotation in STEM and non-STEM students. LEARNING AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lindif.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Kaltner S, Jansen P. Sex of human stimulus matters: female and male stimuli are processed differently in mental rotation tasks. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/20445911.2018.1530677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Kaltner
- Faculty of Psychology, Pedagogy and Sport Science, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Petra Jansen
- Faculty of Psychology, Pedagogy and Sport Science, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Qiu F, Pi Y, Liu K, Li X, Zhang J, Wu Y. Influence of sports expertise level on attention in multiple object tracking. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5732. [PMID: 30280051 PMCID: PMC6166630 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to investigate whether performance in a multiple object tracking (MOT) task could be improved incrementally with sports expertise, and whether differences between experienced and less experienced athletes, or non-athletes, were modulated by load. Methods We asked 22 elite and 20 intermediate basketball players, and 23 non-athletes, to perform an MOT task under three attentional load conditions (two, three, and four targets). Accuracies were analyzed to examine whether different levels of sports expertise influence MOT task performance. Results The elite athletes displayed better tracking performance compared with the intermediate or non-athletes when tracking three or four targets. However, no significant difference was found between the intermediate athletes and the non-athletes. Further, no differences were observed among the three groups when tracking two targets. Discussion The results suggest that the effects of expertise in team ball sports could transfer to a non-sports-specific attention task. These transfer effects to general cognitive functions occur only in elite athletes with extensive training under higher attentional load.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanghui Qiu
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanling Pi
- Shanghai Punan Hospital of Pudong New District, Shanghai, China
| | - Ke Liu
- Shanghai Punan Hospital of Pudong New District, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuepei Li
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Yin Wu
- School of Economics and Management, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
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Schumacher N, Schmidt M, Wellmann K, Braumann KM. General perceptual-cognitive abilities: Age and position in soccer. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202627. [PMID: 30138420 PMCID: PMC6107215 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Various studies suggest the importance of sport-specific cognitive and perceptual abilities in soccer. However, the role of general perceptual-cognitive abilities and the relation of age respective to position have not been clarified for soccer in detail. Therefore, it was the objective of the present study to determine the relation of age and position to general perceptual-cognitive abilities. 178 highly talented male soccer players (mean age 16.2, age range 10 to 33 years) were involved. The participants performed computer-based sustained attention and anticipation (using Vienna Test System) tests. 139 subjects (mean age 16.6) took part in visual and acoustic reaction tests (using Talent Diagnostic System). The soccer players, subdivided into age and position groups, were recruited from a youth academy of a professional soccer club and played at the highest and 2nd highest national soccer competition for their age. Group differences were tested using analysis of variance. Correlations were analyzed for age and abilities. Significant correlations and group differences were found for age and sustained attention tasks. Significant differences for position groups were observed with regard to acoustic reaction time (ART). Further, we found statistical tendencies for group differences regarding the visual reaction time (VRT), indicating that midfielders outperform defenders and strikers in simple reaction tasks. Improved skills in sustained attention tasks resulted for defenders, who worked faster and more precisely in figural tasks. Regarding general anticipation tasks differences were not found. No group differences were found in basic anticipation tasks. Our study indicates that additional research is needed to further clarify the development of general perceptual-cognitive abilities and position-specific differences in the above abilities of highly talented soccer players.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Schumacher
- University of Hamburg, Faculty of Psychology and Human Movement, Institute of Human Movement Science, Department Sports and Exercise Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Mike Schmidt
- University of Hamburg, Faculty of Psychology and Human Movement, Institute of Human Movement Science, Department Sports and Exercise Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kai Wellmann
- University of Hamburg, Faculty of Psychology and Human Movement, Institute of Human Movement Science, Department Sports and Exercise Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Klaus-Michael Braumann
- University of Hamburg, Faculty of Psychology and Human Movement, Institute of Human Movement Science, Department Sports and Exercise Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
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Pačesová P, Šmela P, Kraček S, Kukurová K, Plevková L. Cognitive function of young male tennis players and non-athletes. ACTA GYMNICA 2018. [DOI: 10.5507/ag.2018.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Würth S, Hofer A, Amesberger G. Zur Diskussion des CHC-Modells im Kontext des Leistungssports. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR SPORTPSYCHOLOGIE 2018. [DOI: 10.1026/1612-5010/a000225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Zusammenfassung. Das Cattell-Horn-Carroll Modell (CHC-Modell) wird als potentielles Rahmenmodell vorgestellt, um kognitive Basisfähigkeiten im leistungssportlichen Kontext zu betrachten. Mit dem Determinationstest (DT) wird beispielhaft ein Testverfahren aus dem Wiener Testsystem auf seine psychometrischen Eigenschaften geprüft, Aspekte der speed & efficiency als Komponenten des CHC-Modells zu erfassen, die im Sport von hoher Bedeutsamkeit sind. Zur Konstruktvalidierung wird ergänzend der Cognitrone (COG), der u.a. den CHC-Bereich memory & efficiency abbildet, in Teilstichproben eingesetzt. Auf der Datenbasis von österreichischen Leistungssporttreibenden sowie Sportstudierenden werden Kriteriums- und Konstruktvalidität sowie Test-Retest-Stabilität des DT berichtet. Der DT scheint einen Beitrag leisten zu können, zwischen Sportartenbündeln zu differenzieren, die (a) hohe Anforderungen (z.B. Tennis) bzw. (b) geringe Anforderungen (z.B. Skilanglauf) an speed & efficiency stellen. In Spielsportarten, die stark auf speed & efficiency als auch der memory & efficiency rekurrieren, korrelieren die Daten des DT und COG erwartungsgemäß höher als bei den beiden anderen Sportartenbündeln.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Würth
- IFFB Sport- und Bewegungswissenschaft/USI der Universität Salzburg
| | - Andreas Hofer
- IFFB Sport- und Bewegungswissenschaft/USI der Universität Salzburg
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Feng T, Zhang Z, Ji Z, Jia B, Li Y. Selective Effects of Sport Expertise on the Stages of Mental Rotation Tasks With Object-Based and Egocentric Transformations. Adv Cogn Psychol 2017; 13:248-256. [PMID: 29071008 PMCID: PMC5647158 DOI: 10.5709/acp-0225-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well established that motor expertise is linked to superior mental rotation ability, but few studies have attempted to explain the factors that influence the stages of mental rotation in sport experts. Some authors have argued that athletes are faster in the perceptual and decision stages but not in the rotation stages of object-based transformations; however, stimuli related to sport have not been used to test mental rotation with egocentric transformations. Therefore, 24 adolescent elite divers and 23 adolescent nonathletes completed mental rotation tasks with object-based and egocentric transformations. The results showed faster reaction times (RTs) for the motor experts in tasks with both types of transformations (object-based cube, object-based body, and egocentric body). Additionally, the differences in favour of motor experts in the perceptual and decision stages were confirmed. Interestingly, motor experts also outperformed nonathletes in the rotation stages in the egocentric transformations. These findings are discussed against the background of the effects of sport expertise on mental rotation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Feng
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai,
China
| | | | - Zhiguang Ji
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai,
China
| | - Binbin Jia
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai,
China
| | - Yawei Li
- China Institute of Sport Science, Beijing, China
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Radonić V, Kozmar D, Počanić D, Jerkić H, Bohaček I, Letilović T. Mortality and causes of death among Croatian male Olympic medalists. Croat Med J 2017; 58:263-269. [PMID: 28857519 PMCID: PMC5577651 DOI: 10.3325/cmj.2017.58.263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim To compare the overall and disease-specific mortality of Croatian male athletes who won one or more Olympic medals representing Yugoslavia from 1948 to 1988 or Croatia from 1992 to 2016, and the general Croatian male population standardized by age and time period. Methods All 233 Croatian male Olympic medalists were included in the study. Information on life duration and cause of death for the Olympic medalists who died before January 1, 2017, was acquired from their families and acquaintances. We asked the families and acquaintances to present medical documentation for the deceased. Data about the overall and disease-specific mortality of the Croatian male population standardized by age and time period were obtained from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Overall and disease-specific standard mortality ratios (SMR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to compare the mortality rates of athletes and general population. Results Among 233 Olympic medalists, 57 died before the study endpoint. The main causes of death were cardiovascular diseases (33.3%), neoplasms (26.3%), and external causes (17.6%). The overall mortality of the Olympic medalists was significantly lower than that of general population (SMR 0.73, 95% CI 0.56-0.94, P = 0.013). Regarding specific causes of death, athletes’ mortality from cardiovascular diseases was significantly reduced (SMR 0.61, 95% CI 0.38-0.93, P = 0.021). Conclusions Croatian male Olympic medalists benefit from lower overall and cardiovascular mortality rates in comparison to the general Croatian male population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vedran Radonić
- Vedran Radonić, Institute for Emergency Medicine Sisak and Moslavina County, Ulica 1. svibnja 20, 44000 Sisak, Croatia,
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