Sports Medicine Department, Internal Medicine and Geriatrics Institute Catholic University, Rome, 8 00168, IT.
Phys Sportsmed. 2008 Dec;36(1):95-102. doi: 10.3810/psm.2008.12.17.
The aim of the study is to investigate cognitive functions in boxers. The study population was composed of 2 groups of male boxers with no history of head concussions (except during boxing): a) 33 amateurs at their first examination; b) 27 professionals. Subjects were requested to: a) fulfill a questionnaire collecting demographic data, level of education, occupational status, boxing record (for professionals), and number of head concussions during boxing; b) undergo a computerized neuropsychological (NP) test (CogSport) measuring simple and complex reaction time (RT). Professionals were significantly (P < 0.0001) older (29.4 +/- 4.19 years) and started boxing at a younger age (14.5 +/- 3.94 vs 20.3 +/- 4.77 years, P < 0.0001) than debutants (24.1 +/- 5.13 years). Debutants showed significantly shorter simple RTs than professionals, both at the beginning (0.244 +/- 0.007 vs 0.249 +/- 0.007 s, P = 0.005) and the end (0.247 +/- 0.007 vs 0.251 +/- 0.008 s, P = 0.028) of NP test. Complex RTs did not differ between groups. Professionals showed a positive significant correlation between simple RT at the beginning of NP test and the total number of disputed (P = 0.043) and won (P = 0.035) bouts. In conclusion, professionals show a longer simple RT compared with debutants, with no difference regarding more complex cognitive tasks. A possible explanation may be found in an adaptation of skilled boxers to better (and longer) evaluate external stimuli before giving a motor response.
boxing; CogSport; reaction time; neuropsychological test.
研究旨在探究拳击运动员的认知功能。研究人群由两组无头部撞击史（拳击过程中除外）的男性拳击手组成：a）首次检查的 33 名业余选手；b）27 名职业选手。要求受试者：a）填写一份问卷，收集人口统计学数据、教育水平、职业状况、拳击记录（针对职业选手）和拳击过程中的头部撞击次数；b）进行计算机化神经心理学（NP）测试（CogSport），测量简单和复杂反应时间（RT）。职业选手明显（P < 0.0001）年龄较大（29.4 +/- 4.19 岁），开始拳击的年龄也较小（14.5 +/- 3.94 岁 vs 20.3 +/- 4.77 岁，P < 0.0001）比新手（24.1 +/- 5.13 岁）。新手的简单 RT 明显短于职业选手，无论是在 NP 测试的开始（0.244 +/- 0.007 vs 0.249 +/- 0.007 s，P = 0.005）还是结束（0.247 +/- 0.007 vs 0.251 +/- 0.008 s，P = 0.028）。两组之间的复杂 RT 没有差异。职业选手在 NP 测试开始时的简单 RT 与争议（P = 0.043）和获胜（P = 0.035）的总回合数之间存在正显著相关性。结论：与新手相比，职业选手的简单 RT 较长，但在更复杂的认知任务中没有差异。一种可能的解释是，熟练的拳击手在做出运动反应之前，能够更好（且更长）地评估外部刺激，从而做出适应。
拳击；CogSport；反应时间；神经心理学测试。
