STRESS RESILIENCE AND DECISION-MAKING UNDER PRESSURE: ENHANCING ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE IN COMPETITIVE SPORTS

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Psychology

Background:

• High-pressure environments in competitive sports challenge athletes' decision-making capabilities.
• Understanding the cognitive and neurobiological factors influencing decisions under stress is crucial for performance.
• Athletic performance is intrinsically linked to an athlete's ability to manage stress and make effective choices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms of decision-making under stress in athletes.
• To determine how developing decision-making skills impacts stress resilience and athletic performance.
• To explore effective training methodologies for enhancing these skills.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of empirical research drawing on cognitive-behavioral, neurobiological, and ecological models.
• Examination of the effects of high-pressure environments on athletes' rapid decision-making.
• Evaluation of training methods including video-based feedback and virtual reality simulations.

Main Results:

• Targeted cognitive training, especially using video simulation and virtual reality, substantially improves decision-making under stress.
• Enhanced decision-making abilities correlate with improved emotional regulation and cognitive flexibility.
• These improvements are vital for athletes to sustain high performance levels when under pressure.

Conclusions:

• Integrating decision-making training into sports preparation enhances immediate competitive outcomes.
• Such training strengthens long-term stress resilience and contributes positively to athletes' mental health.
• Developing superior decision-making skills is a key factor in optimizing athletic potential and well-being.