The role of domain-specific and domain-general cognitive functions and skills in sports performance: A meta-analysis
Journal article
Kalén, A., Bisagno, E., Musculus, L., Raab, M., Pérez-Ferreirós, A., Williams, A.M., Araújo, D., Lindwall, M. and Ivarsson, A. (2021). The role of domain-specific and domain-general cognitive functions and skills in sports performance: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin. 147 (12), p. 1290–1308. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000355
Authors | Kalén, A., Bisagno, E., Musculus, L., Raab, M., Pérez-Ferreirós, A., Williams, A.M., Araújo, D., Lindwall, M. and Ivarsson, A. |
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Abstract | Cognition plays a key role in sports performance. In this meta-analytic review, we synthesize research that has examined the relationship between cognitive functions, skills, and sports performance. We identified literature by searching Cochrane library, PsychInfo, Pubmed, and Web of Science. We included studies conducted on competitive athletes, assessed cognitive prerequisites, and included performance measures related to the sport. Of the 9433 screened records, 136 reports were included, containing 142 studies, 1227 effect sizes, and 8860 participants. Only 11 studies used a prospective study design. The risk of bias was assessed using The Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies. The multilevel meta- analysis showed a medium effect size for the overall difference in cognitive functions and skills, with higher-skilled athletes scoring better than lower-skilled athletes (Hedges’ g = 0.59, 95% CI [0.49, 0.69]). The moderator analysis showed larger effect size for tests of cognitive decision-making skills (g = 0.77, 95% CI [0.6, 0.94]) compared to basic (g = 0.39, 95% CI [0.21, 0.56]) and higher cognitive functions (g = 0.44, 95% CI [0.26, 0.62]), as well as larger effect size for sport-specific task-stimuli compared to general ones. We report that higher-skilled athletes perform better on tests of cognitive function compared to lower-skilled athletes. There was insufficient evidence to determine whether cognitive functions and skills can predict future sport performance. We found no evidence to support claims that tests of general cognitive functions, such as executive functioning, should be used by practitioners for talent identification or player selection. |
Keywords | cognitive functions; decision-making; expertise; sports level; sports performance. |
Year | 2021 |
Journal | Psychological Bulletin |
Journal citation | 147 (12), p. 1290–1308 |
Publisher | American Psychological Association |
ISSN | 0033-2909 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000355 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 08 Feb 2022 |
Deposited | 13 May 2022 |
Accepted author manuscript |
https://openresearch.lsbu.ac.uk/item/8zxw0
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