Alagoz Ismet, Demirkan Erkan, Ozkadi Tugrul, Yildirim Turgut
Institute of Educational Sciences, Hitit University, Çorum, Türkiye.
Department of Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Hitit University, Çorum, Türkiye.
BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Sep 2;17(1):262. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01320-1.
It is known that high-level performance in athletes is not only limited to physical competence and technical skills, but also cognitive functions such as attention, concentration, stress management and reaction time play a decisive role. The aim of this study was to examine the cognitive performance levels of athletes in different skill types (team, individual, combat, racket).
The study was conducted with a total of 214 athletes between the ages of 14-16 with at least three years of regular training history, including team (n = 64), individual (n = 48), racket (n = 27) and combat (n = 75). Cognitive performance measurements were made before training. Attention and concentration levels were assessed using NeuroSky MindWave EEG device, stress level was assessed using HeartMath Inner Balance device and reaction time was assessed using CatchPad device.
Combat athletes demonstrated significantly higher cognitive scores in attention (X̄ = 53.77 ± 24.86 s; F = 26.43, p < .001, η² = 0.318) and concentration (X̄ = 22.51 ± 15.90 s; F = 18.49, p < .001, η² = 0.360) compared to other groups. Racket sports athletes exhibited the fastest reaction times (X̄ = 0.35 ± 0.04 s; F = 11.66, p < .001, η² = 0.184) and the highest inner balance coherence (X̄ = 1.85 ± 0.38; F = 15.54, p < .001, η² = 0.188). Significant group differences were also observed in intrinsic heart rate variability (Inner Balance Avg BPM), with combat athletes recording the highest average (X̄ = 79.48 ± 12.18 bpm; F = 10.80, p < .001, η² = 0.142). Discriminant analysis revealed a high classification success rate for racket (85.2%) and combat athletes (81.3%) based on cognitive and psychophysiological variables.
The findings of this study demonstrate that different sport skill types are associated with distinct cognitive performance profiles. These results may provide valuable insight for coaches, trainers, and sport psychologists in designing branch-specific cognitive training strategies and talent identification protocols. More broadly, the study highlights the critical role of sport participation in shaping not only physical but also neurocognitive development during adolescence.
众所周知，运动员的高水平表现不仅限于身体能力和技术技能，诸如注意力、专注力、压力管理和反应时间等认知功能也起着决定性作用。本研究的目的是检验不同技能类型（团队、个人、格斗、球拍）运动员的认知表现水平。
本研究共纳入214名年龄在14 - 16岁之间、至少有三年常规训练历史的运动员，包括团队项目（n = 64）、个人项目（n = 48）、球拍项目（n = 27）和格斗项目（n = 75）。在训练前进行认知表现测量。使用NeuroSky MindWave脑电图设备评估注意力和专注力水平，使用HeartMath Inner Balance设备评估压力水平，使用CatchPad设备评估反应时间。
与其他组相比，格斗项目运动员在注意力（X̄ = 53.77 ± 24.86秒；F = 26.43，p <.001，η² = 0.318）和专注力（X̄ = 22.51 ± 15.90秒；F = 18.49，p <.001，η² = 0.360）方面表现出显著更高的认知得分。球拍类运动项目运动员表现出最快的反应时间（X̄ = 0.35 ± 0.04秒；F = 11.66，p <.001，η² = 0.184）和最高的内心平衡连贯性（X̄ = 1.85 ± 0.38；F = 15.54，p <.001，η² = 0.188）。在固有心率变异性（Inner Balance Avg BPM）方面也观察到显著的组间差异，格斗项目运动员的平均心率最高（X̄ = 79.48 ± 12.18次/分钟；F = 10.80，p <.001，η² = 0.142）。判别分析显示，基于认知和心理生理变量，球拍项目（85.2%）和格斗项目运动员（81.3%）的分类成功率较高。
本研究结果表明，不同的运动技能类型与不同的认知表现特征相关。这些结果可能为教练、训练师和运动心理学家设计特定项目的认知训练策略和人才识别方案提供有价值的见解。更广泛地说，该研究强调了运动参与在塑造青少年不仅身体而且神经认知发展方面的关键作用。
