Motor skill experience modulates attentional processing regardless of open- or closed-skill types: an ERP study

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Sports Science
• Human Performance

Background:

• Attentional engagement is vital for optimal human performance.
• Athletes generally display superior attentional engagement compared to non-athletes.
• It is unclear if these benefits extend to non-sport tasks or vary between open-skill and closed-skill sports.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate attentional engagement differences between open-skill athletes, closed-skill athletes, and non-athletes.
• To examine the relationship between aerobic fitness and attentional processing.
• To assess if sports participation benefits extend to non-sport-related cognitive tasks.

Main Methods:

• Ninety-three young adults were categorized into open-skill athletes, closed-skill athletes, and a control group.
• An auditory oddball task measured the P3 component of event-related potentials for attentional processing.
• Aerobic fitness was assessed, and regression models analyzed its link with attentional processing.

Main Results:

• Both open- and closed-skill athletes showed significantly larger P3 amplitudes than controls, indicating enhanced attentional engagement.
• No significant differences in response time or accuracy were found between groups.
• Aerobic fitness positively correlated with P3 amplitude, highlighting its role in cognitive processing.

Conclusions:

• Participation in open- or closed-skill sports enhances attentional engagement in healthy young adults, irrespective of the sport type.
• Aerobic fitness is a key factor supporting cognitive performance and attentional skills.
• Findings from an Egyptian sample support the generalizability of cognitive benefits of sports and aerobic fitness across cultures.