Development and reliability of a framework to assess cognitive-motor function in sport

Reduced cognitive ability may affect sports performance and increase injury risk. Current cognitive function screening tools in athletes include stationary procedures that may lack external validity, whole-body movements, and time constraints. We aimed to study the reliability and the between- and within-session variations of newly developed cognitive-motor tests.

Twelve physically active participants participated in two experimental sessions. In each session, they completed a test battery to assess sport-relevant cognitive-motor domains (reaction time, processing speed, divided attention, visual memory, peripheral vision) using a specific training system, including devices with a LED matrix and proximity sensor. Each test comprised three blocks of 25 trials or 4 blocks of 20 trials. Test-retest reliability was assessed using two-way mixed-effects intraclass correlation coefficient. Within- and between-session changes were assessed using repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-tests.

Reliability ranged from moderate to excellent (ICC: 0.51-0.94). Processing speed and divided attention scores significantly improved in the second session (Δ: 5.3-7.7%, P<0.017; Δ: 12.0-13.7%, P<0.001, respectively). No changes were detected within the same experimental day, except for divided attention that improved across session 1 (1^st vs. 3^rd block: Δ=5%, P=0.014).

Given the results, some tests can be discarded, or the number of trials reduced due to lower reliability and long duration, resulting in a test battery that is overall shorter but reliable and accurate. Further research is warranted to evaluate the predictive ability of this protocol for injury risk identification in different sport-relevant populations.