Executive functions in elite athletes – Comparing open-skill and closed-skill sports and considering the role of athletes' past involvement in both sport categories
Publisher DOI
Abstract
Previous research documented differences in executive functions between elite athletes in different sports. It was
argued that athletes in sport disciplines with higher cognitive demands (i.e., open-skill) show better executive
functions than athletes in less cognitively challenging sport disciplines (i.e., closed-skill). In the current study, we
aimed at detecting differences in executive functions between elite athletes in open-skill versus closed-skill sports
and questioned the role of their total involvement in these sports until the age of 18 on executive functions.
Seventy-five elite athletes (45 males and 30 females; Mage = 23.03 ± 4.41 years) from various sports were
classified as open- or closed-skill athletes based on the sport they currently competed in. The athletes conducted a
series of neuro-psychological tests measuring working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility (Design
Fluency test, Trail Making test, Flanker task, and a 2-back task). Retrospective interviews assessed athletes’ sport
involvement in open-skill and closed-skill sports until the age of 18.
MANCOVAs revealed that athletes in open-skill sports performed better on measures of working memory and
cognitive flexibility. Generalized Linear Models displayed that elite athletes in closed-skill sports, with greater
involvement in open-skill sports until the age of 18, performed better during working memory and cognitive
flexibility tasks.
The results indicate that extensive time spent in open- and closed-skill sports can affect executive functions in
elite athletes. A high involvement in open-skill sports proved to be beneficial for executive functions, in
particular for elite athletes in closed-skill sports. These findings suggest that experiences in cognitively
demanding sports may cause benefits for the development of executive functions.
argued that athletes in sport disciplines with higher cognitive demands (i.e., open-skill) show better executive
functions than athletes in less cognitively challenging sport disciplines (i.e., closed-skill). In the current study, we
aimed at detecting differences in executive functions between elite athletes in open-skill versus closed-skill sports
and questioned the role of their total involvement in these sports until the age of 18 on executive functions.
Seventy-five elite athletes (45 males and 30 females; Mage = 23.03 ± 4.41 years) from various sports were
classified as open- or closed-skill athletes based on the sport they currently competed in. The athletes conducted a
series of neuro-psychological tests measuring working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility (Design
Fluency test, Trail Making test, Flanker task, and a 2-back task). Retrospective interviews assessed athletes’ sport
involvement in open-skill and closed-skill sports until the age of 18.
MANCOVAs revealed that athletes in open-skill sports performed better on measures of working memory and
cognitive flexibility. Generalized Linear Models displayed that elite athletes in closed-skill sports, with greater
involvement in open-skill sports until the age of 18, performed better during working memory and cognitive
flexibility tasks.
The results indicate that extensive time spent in open- and closed-skill sports can affect executive functions in
elite athletes. A high involvement in open-skill sports proved to be beneficial for executive functions, in
particular for elite athletes in closed-skill sports. These findings suggest that experiences in cognitively
demanding sports may cause benefits for the development of executive functions.
Date Issued
2021-07
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
Subjects
Cognition
Inhibition
Working memory
Cognitive flexibility
Athlete development
Inhibition
Working memory
Cognitive flexibility
Athlete development
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Additional Credits
Journal
Psychology of sport and exercise
Publisher
Elsevier Science
ISSN
1469-0292
Access(Rights)
open.access