Brain Jogging: Cognitive Abilities of Beginner Tennis Players

This study tries to emphasize the cognitive abilities in professional sportsmen and their role in getting good results in high stake sport competitions. High stake competitions involve distress, an important emotional charge and for a successful outcome it is necessary for the sportsmen to have a good mental planning. In our study we try to check the level of cognitive abilities of the sportsmen who were involved in national interest sport competitions, to see if there is a correlation between well developed cognitive abilities and their results got into the sport competitions, knowing that self-control is very important in different stressful situations. In this research we also want to see if there is a correlation between high developed cognitive abilities and sportsmen' s performance in a single area or multiple ones.

Brain Sciences

This review is extensively focused on the enhancement of cognitive functions while performing physical exercises categorized into cardiovascular exercises, resistance training, martial arts, racquet sports, dancing and mind-body exercises. Imaging modalities, viz. functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG), have been included in this review. This review indicates that differences are present in cognitive functioning while changing the type of physical activity performed. This study concludes that employing fNIRS helps overcome certain limitations of fMRI. Further, the effects of physical activity on a diverse variety of the population, from active children to the old people, are discussed.

Frontiers in psychology, 2018

Sports performance at the highest level requires a wealth of cognitive functions such as attention, decision making, and working memory to be functioning at optimal levels in stressful and demanding environments. Whilst a substantial research base exists focusing on psychological skills for performance (e.g., imagery) or therapeutic techniques for emotion regulation (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy), there is a scarcity of research examining whether the enhancement of core cognitive abilities leads to improved performance in sport. Cognitive training is a highly researched method of enhancing cognitive skills through repetitive and targeted exercises. In this article, we outline the potential use of cognitive training (CT) in athlete populations with a view to supporting athletic performance. We propose how such an intervention could be used in the future, drawing on evidence from other fields where this technique is more fruitfully researched, and provide recommendations for bot...

Objectives: The research was conducted in order to determine the structure and differences in cognitive dimensions of track-and-field athletes and basketball players. Design: The algorithm for determination of differences in the level of cognitive functioning between track-and-field athletes and basketball players. Methods: For the purpose of determining the structures and their differences in the manifest and latent cognitive spaces, 100 male respondents aged 14 and 18 was tested. This sample can be considered representative of athletes of those ages. For the assessment of cognitive abilities, the researchers used 6 measurement instruments selected so that the structure analysis could be performed on the basis of the cybernetic model designed by 7 and by 5 , 10 , taking into account the fact that the selected tests measure three types of cognitive processing. Results: To determine differences between the groups, canonical discriminant analysis was applied. The results of the discriminant analysis of cognitive variables show that athletes of different sports differ from each other significantly. Conclusions: By means of condensation of variables in cognitive space, two discriminant variables, which maximally separated the groups of athletes based on the discriminant coefficients, were isolated.

Multiple cross-sectional studies have shown that regular complex exercises, which require cognitive demands (e.g., decision making) and various motions, are associated with greater positive effects on executive functions compared to simple exercises. However, the evidence of a single bout of complex exercises is mixed, and investigations on the acute effect of complex exercise using a well-controlled within-subjects research design are few. Therefore, we compared the acute effects of complex exercise on inhibitory functions with those of simple running. Twenty young adults performed three interventions, which were running, badminton, and seated rest as a control condition for 10 min each. During each intervention, oxygen consumption and heart rate were monitored. A Stroop test and a reverse-Stroop test were completed before and after each intervention. The intensities of the badminton and running were equivalent. Badminton significantly improved performance on the Stroop task compar...

International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2013

Cognitive enhancement refers to any type of improvement in cognitive performance following targeted interventions. Cognitive training is a rapidly growing market with potential to further expand in the future. Several computerized software programs promoting cognitive enhancement have been developed in recent years, with controversial results and implications. Within the research field, advances have been made regarding our understanding of the benefits inherent to cognitive programs, mainly involving working memory mechanisms and videogame training paradigms. In a distinct literature, physical exercise has been shown to broadly enhance cognitive functions, in humans and animals. In this article, we bring together these two trends of research in a comparative review, leading the discussion to an emerging third approach: designed sports training. Specifically designed sports, which tax working memory and spatial ability by incorporating motion in three-dimensional space, are an optimal way to combine the benefits of traditional cognitive training and physical exercise into a single activity. We discuss these findings in the context of embodied cognition, and argue that sensorimotor learning in designed sports is a key mechanism linking training and cognitive enhancement.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Physical activity is a promising intervention to restore cognitive function after prolonged sedentary periods. However, little is known about the effect of short physical activity bouts on cognition especially among individuals that are used to physical activity. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to assess the impact of a single ten-minute physical activity bout on the cognitive domain of visual attention compared to sedentary behavior in a population of physically active sport students. Using a randomized controlled design, 51 healthy and physically active sport students [mean age: 22.3 (SD: 2.0) years, 33.3% female] were allocated to one of the following interventions in the break of a two-hour study course: physical activity group (running for ten minutes) and sedentary control group. Visual attention was measured post-intervention using a modified trail making test. Pre-, post-, and 30 min after intervention, perceived attention, and affective states were measured. Be...

International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 2023

Tennis requires coordination and concentration. Concentration is a very important component in improving achievement, because concentration is the ability to focus one's attention in a relatively long period of time. This ability must be possessed by individuals because concentration will affect a person's cognitive abilities. If a person's concentration is high, his cognitive abilities will also be high. One of the causes of someone experiencing concentration problems is because the person likes to daydream excessively. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the motor cognitive coordination training (MCCT) program could improve the concentration ability of beginner tennis players. The method used was the experimental method. The research subjects were novice tennis athletes in Tasikmalaya, totaling thirty-seven people. The age range of the participants ranged from 11-16 years. As a result, it is proven that the implementation of the MCCT program provides good effectiveness for increasing the concentration of beginner tennis athletes. This is supported by the results of the significance test with the P-value of the paired sample t-test of 0.001 <0.05. This means that Ho is rejected, so it can be concluded that there is a difference in the average concentration test scores between the pre-test and post-test in this study.

The Open Sports Sciences Journal

Aims: The first aim of the study was to examine the attentional performance of children (8–13 years of age) who practiced two different sport disciplines: Open skill sport – racket and closed skill sport – running and also to investigate the acute effects of these two specific training sessions on children’s immediate and delayed attentional performance. The second aim of the present study was to verify gender differences in attentional performance. Eighteen children+ (8 girls and 10 boys; age = 10.6 ± 1.5 yrs; height = 144.3 ± 12.2 cm; weight = 44.2 ± 12.5 kg; BMI = 20.8 ± 2.7 kg/m2) engaged in a racket sports and eighteen children (9 girls and 9 boys; age = 9.9 ± 1.2 yrs; height = 142.4 ± 9.5 cm; weight = 40.0 ± 8.6 kg; BMI = 19.6 ± 2.4 kg/m2) engaged in running were enrolled. Methods: Children’s training and experience with these activities averaged 2.3 (± 1.0) years. Children’s attentional capacity was measured before, immediately after and 50 minutes after each specific trainin...

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2018

Editorial on the Research Topic Cognitive and Brain Plasticity Induced by Physical Exercise, Cognitive Training, Video Games, and Combined Interventions This Research Topic (RT) focused on recent research conducted in the field of cognitive and brain plasticity induced by physical activity, different types of cognitive training, including computerized interventions, learning therapy, video games, and combined intervention approaches as well as other forms of brain stimulation that target brain activity, including electroencephalography and neurofeedback. It contains 49 contributions to the topic, including original research articles (37), clinical trials (2), reviews (5), mini-reviews (2), hypothesis and theory (1), and corrections (2). The premise of neuroplasticity on enhancing cognitive functioning among healthy as well as cognitively impaired individuals across the lifespan, and the potential of harnessing these processes to prevent cognitive decline attract substantial scientific and public interest. Indeed, the systematic evidence base for cognitive training, video games, physical exercise, and other forms of brain stimulation such as entrain brain activity is growing rapidly, thus paving the way for research geared at better understanding the underlying mechanisms and translation to clinical practice (Raz and Lindenberger, 2013). Studies in this field might contribute to improve our knowledge on cognitive and brain plasticity and be of great help for designing effective cognitive-enhancement interventions (see Karbach and Schubert, 2013). It is well-known that brain plasticity and its role in brain adaptation across the lifespan are influenced by other changes occurring as a result of environmental factors, personality variables and genetic and epigenetic factors (see Ballesteros et al., 2015). To date, most cognitive training studies have focused on measuring gains immediately after training, typically demonstrating effects on the trained tasks or closely-related transfer measures (i.e., near transfer). Yet the potency of cognitive training depends on evidence of: (1) far transfer from training to untrained functions; (2) the durability of training effects, including what booster regimens are needed to maintain cognitive benefits in young and older adults; and (3) the extent to which cognitive training can affect clinically meaningful outcomes. Researchers are increasingly using cognitive training platforms and video games to investigate its impact on cognition and brain plasticity. Video game play is a very popular leisure activity. An interesting preliminary question is why consumers choose to download smartphones applications

Hauppauge, New York : Nova Science Publisher's, Inc., 2014

Many studies have focused on the possibility that video games can transfer skills learned during the game playing to cognitive abilities. However, it is necessary to make a distinction between two types of games. Most games are recreational, played for recreation and relaxation or for the pleasure of discovery and excitement. Other games involve many types of brain training exercises including reasoning tests, memory tests. This article is a synthesis of three experiments contrasting brain training game vs. recreational video games and their transfer effects on cognitive and school tests. The three experiments followed the same pretest-posttest experimental design: Students (around 10-11 years old) were specifically trained from 7 to 12 sessions of 45 minutes, and divided into four groups: “Kawashima’s Brain Training”; “Big Brain Academy” or “New Super Mario Bros”; Paper-Pencil Games (as an active group), and a Control group (without any training). In Experiment n°1, the training effect from the practice of the “Kawashima Brain Training” or recreational Brain Training “Big Brain Academy”, does not exceed paper-pencil games group or control group (without training) in six tests (school tests or cognitive tests adapted from WISC-IV). However other studies prove that a transfer effect occurs, particularly on visual or sensory-motor abilities. So, in Experiment n°2, ten cognitive tests of visuo-motor dexterity, visual memory, visuospatial memory and attention (used in pretest and posttest) were carried out. The results of these ten tests showed a significant small positive effect on the right hand dexterity test for the “Kawashima’s Brain training” group and on the visual span test for the group trained with “New Super Mario Bros”. Experiment n°3 explores the possibility of an improvement for visual information processing, in particular for visuospatial memory and reasoning for the “New Super Mario Bros” video game, but not for “Kawashima’s brain training”. School test were added to confirm experiment N°1 results with more students (80 students: 10 years old) and more training sessions (12 sessions of 45 minutes) with the same schedule with four groups: “Kawashima’s Brain Training”; “New Super Mario Bros”; Paper-Pencil Games (as an active group), and a Control group (without any training). Six tests were used as pre and posttests: school tests (History, Geography, and Math) and cognitive tests (Visual and Visuospatial memories; Visual Reasoning). No positive transfer effect was observed for the “Kawashima’s brain training” or “Mario” group compared to the Paper-Pencil training or the Control group. To sum up, global programs like Brain Training are not specific enough to improve higher cognitive capacities or school learning abilities.

2008

• There is a growing emphasis on healthy aging, with many services and products being developed to respond to this interest.

Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 2015

In this brief review we summarize the promising effects of physical activity and fitness on brain and cognition in children and older adults. Research in children finds that higher fit and more active preadolescent children show greater hippocampal and basal ganglia volume, greater white matter integrity, elevated and more efficient patterns of brain activity, and superior cognitive performance and scholastic achievement. Higher fit and more physically active older adults show greater hippocampal, prefrontal cortex, and basal ganglia volume, greater functional brain connectivity, greater white matter integrity, more efficient brain activity, and superior executive and memory function. Despite these promising results, more randomized trials are needed to understand heterogeneity in response to physical activity, mechanisms, and translation to public policy.

Journal of human kinetics, 2017

Fast reaction and good inhibitory control are associated with elite sports performance. To evaluate the reproducibility and validity of a newly developed Badminton Reaction Inhibition Test (BRIT), fifteen elite (25 ± 4 years) and nine non-elite (24 ± 4 years) Dutch male badminton players participated in the study. The BRIT measured four components: domain-general reaction time, badminton-specific reaction time, domain-general inhibitory control and badminton-specific inhibitory control. Five participants were retested within three weeks on the badminton-specific components. Reproducibility was acceptable for badminton-specific reaction time (ICC = 0.626, CV = 6%) and for badminton-specific inhibitory control (ICC = 0.317, CV = 13%). Good construct validity was shown for badminton-specific reaction time discriminating between elite and non-elite players (F = 6.650, p &lt; 0.05). Elite players did not outscore non-elite players on domain-general reaction time nor on both components of...

The effects of exergames on neurocognition were examined. Treadmill-based exercise, in contrast to exergaming, facilitated neurocognition. Exergames may not incur the same benefits to brain and cognition as traditional physical activities.