https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9365-2996
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Abstract
Objectives
The differences in sporting environments between open and closed skill sports impose unique demands on athletes’ cognitive and motor capabilities. Our study aims to investigate and compare cognitive function and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) among individuals involved in different sports, namely basketball, swimming, and a sedentary non-sports group.
Materials and methods
The study consisted of three groups, namely basketball players, swimmers, and sedentary individuals, with each group comprising twenty-six participants. HRV was assessed with the help of PowerLab. Cognition was assessed using the Ebbinghaus Memory Procedure Test (EMT), Go/No-Go Task (GNG), Color Stroop task, Trail Making Test (TMT), and Letter Cancellation test (LCT).
Results
The results of the Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) analyses indicated that there was significance between the groups. However, no significant differences were observed between swimmers and basketball players in cognitive functions and HRV measures. Overall, the sport group outperformed the sedentary group. Specifically, basketball players and swimmers completed LCT and TMT faster than the sedentary group (p = 0.044 and p < 0.001 for basketball players, p = 0.002 and p = 0.001 for swimmers). Additionally, basketball players took fewer trials in EMT (p = 0.013) and less time (p = 0.026) compared to the sedentary group.
Conclusion
The results of the study indicate that sports training, regardless of sport type, positively impacts overall cognitive function. However, no significant differences were observed in cognitive task performance and HRV measures between open and closed skill sport players. These findings suggest that sports can enhance cognitive functions, regardless of the sport played.
Acknowledgement
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors
Author contributions
SC, KRN and CAS have given substantial contributions to the conception or the design of the manuscript, SC and CAS to the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of the data. All authors were involved in the interpretation of the findings. All authors were involved in drafting the manuscript. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript and agree to be held accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data availability statement
Anonymized data are available upon reasonable request.
Figure 1. Cognitive function test parameters in the three groups. LCT: letter cancellation task; TMT: trail making task; EMT: Ebbinghaus memory procedure test; GNG: Go/No Go task; *significantly different (p < 0.05) from sedentary group.
Figure 2. Heart rate variability measures in the three participant groups. HR (bpm): resting heart rate in beats per minute (bpm); SDRR: standard deviation of all R-R interval; RMSSD: root mean square difference of successive R-R interval; HF: high frequency (HF; 0.15–0.4 Hz); LF: low frequency (LF; 0.04–0.15 Hz); SD1: standard descriptor 1; SD2: standard descriptor 2; nu: normalized unit; ms: millisecond; ms2: milliseconds squared. *Significantly different (p < 0.05) from sedentary group.
