Cognitive function and brain structure in extreme sports athletes: Evidence from neuroimaging

Neuroimaging studies have shown that the brain structure and function of athletes engaging in professional sports can be affected even after a short period of training. However, few studies have investigated the structural and functional characteristics of the athletes' brains in extreme sports. A combination of psychological assessment, structural and functional MRI was performed to evaluate the effects of extreme sports on athletes' brains. The athlete group included 30 male athletes (mean age 20.5 ± 0.9 years) with at least two years of professional experience in extreme sports, while the control group consisted of 20 age-matched male non-athletes engaged in regular physical activity. Brain imaging data were acquired using a 3-Tesla MRI scanner. Psychological evaluation was conducted using internationally standardized questionnaires, including measures of personality traits, affect, anxiety, stress, emotional regulation, aggression, and attention. These assessments ensured groups were matched on key psychological traits before participating in the study. Brain volumetric analysis showed that athletes had increased gray matter in the Thalamus, Hippocampus, Middle Temporal Gyrus, Inferior Frontal Gyrus, and Anterior Cingulate Cortex-regions linked to memory, cognitive control, decision-making, and emotional regulation. Athletes also performed better on a task administered before and after exposure to aggressive, critical, and emotionally provocative extreme sports stimuli. Our findings indicate that participation in professional extreme sports is associated with structural brain differences that may be related to cognitive functions, particularly cognitive performance and emotional regulation.