Executive Function Strengths in Athletes: a Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
ABSTRACT Objective Whether athletes possess superior executive functions still needs further examination. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the executive function advantages of athletes and the differences in these advantages between open‐ and closed‐skill sports through systematic revi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Brain and Behavior |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70212 |
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| author | Shuangquan Ren Peng Shi Xioasu Feng Kai Zhang Wenchao Wang |
| author_facet | Shuangquan Ren Peng Shi Xioasu Feng Kai Zhang Wenchao Wang |
| author_sort | Shuangquan Ren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Objective Whether athletes possess superior executive functions still needs further examination. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the executive function advantages of athletes and the differences in these advantages between open‐ and closed‐skill sports through systematic review and meta‐analysis. Methods Computer searches of CNKI, Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and SPORTDiscus databases were conducted. After document selection, data extraction, and quality assessment by two researchers, data processing, statistical analysis, and visual presentation were performed using SPSS 25.0, Stata 16.0, and GraphPad Prism 8 software. Results A total of 41 articles were included, including 3845 athletes with a mean age of 9.6–42.8 years. Athletes showed more positive inhibitory control (Z = 5.18, standardized mean difference (SMD) = −0.631, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = −0.869 to −0.392, p = 0.000) and working memory (Z = 3.42, SMD = −0.382, 95%CI = −0.601 to −0.163, p = 0.001) compared to the general group with no sports experience. Elite and sub‐elite, and sub‐elite and amateur athletes all showed more positive performance on the cognitive flexibility task compared to the latter. In addition, open‐skilled athletes performed more positively on working memory and cognitive flexibility tasks compared to closed‐skilled athletes. Egger linear regression analysis revealed a possible publication bias for inhibitory control, whereas there was no publication bias for working memory and cognitive flexibility. Univariate meta‐regression analysis revealed that date of publication (β = 0.145) and sample size (β = −0.002) were sources of heterogeneity between studies for the inclusion of cognitive flexibility (p < 0.05). The sensitivity analysis of the one‐by‐one elimination method and the cut‐and‐patch method found the results to be relatively robust and reliable. Conclusion Athletes have superior executive function performance that increases with sports experience. In addition, open‐skilled athletes showed more positive executive function. The result has guiding significance for the selection and training of athletes in the future. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-304390f4515f4bba9bdbd721d372816e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2162-3279 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain and Behavior |
| spelling | doaj-art-304390f4515f4bba9bdbd721d372816e2025-01-29T13:36:39ZengWileyBrain and Behavior2162-32792025-01-01151n/an/a10.1002/brb3.70212Executive Function Strengths in Athletes: a Systematic Review and Meta‐AnalysisShuangquan Ren0Peng Shi1Xioasu Feng2Kai Zhang3Wenchao Wang4Department of Physical Education Northeast Petroleum University Daqing ChinaSchool of Physical Education Shanghai University of Sport Shanghai ChinaSchool of Physical Education Liaoning Normal University Dalian ChinaSchool of Athletic Performance Shanghai University of Sport Shanghai ChinaSchool of Physical Education Shanghai University of Sport Shanghai ChinaABSTRACT Objective Whether athletes possess superior executive functions still needs further examination. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the executive function advantages of athletes and the differences in these advantages between open‐ and closed‐skill sports through systematic review and meta‐analysis. Methods Computer searches of CNKI, Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and SPORTDiscus databases were conducted. After document selection, data extraction, and quality assessment by two researchers, data processing, statistical analysis, and visual presentation were performed using SPSS 25.0, Stata 16.0, and GraphPad Prism 8 software. Results A total of 41 articles were included, including 3845 athletes with a mean age of 9.6–42.8 years. Athletes showed more positive inhibitory control (Z = 5.18, standardized mean difference (SMD) = −0.631, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = −0.869 to −0.392, p = 0.000) and working memory (Z = 3.42, SMD = −0.382, 95%CI = −0.601 to −0.163, p = 0.001) compared to the general group with no sports experience. Elite and sub‐elite, and sub‐elite and amateur athletes all showed more positive performance on the cognitive flexibility task compared to the latter. In addition, open‐skilled athletes performed more positively on working memory and cognitive flexibility tasks compared to closed‐skilled athletes. Egger linear regression analysis revealed a possible publication bias for inhibitory control, whereas there was no publication bias for working memory and cognitive flexibility. Univariate meta‐regression analysis revealed that date of publication (β = 0.145) and sample size (β = −0.002) were sources of heterogeneity between studies for the inclusion of cognitive flexibility (p < 0.05). The sensitivity analysis of the one‐by‐one elimination method and the cut‐and‐patch method found the results to be relatively robust and reliable. Conclusion Athletes have superior executive function performance that increases with sports experience. In addition, open‐skilled athletes showed more positive executive function. The result has guiding significance for the selection and training of athletes in the future.https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70212athletesbrain sciencescross‐sectional studyexecutive functionsport skillssports experience |
| spellingShingle | Shuangquan Ren Peng Shi Xioasu Feng Kai Zhang Wenchao Wang Executive Function Strengths in Athletes: a Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis Brain and Behavior athletes brain sciences cross‐sectional study executive function sport skills sports experience |
| title | Executive Function Strengths in Athletes: a Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis |
| title_full | Executive Function Strengths in Athletes: a Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Executive Function Strengths in Athletes: a Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Executive Function Strengths in Athletes: a Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis |
| title_short | Executive Function Strengths in Athletes: a Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis |
| title_sort | executive function strengths in athletes a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | athletes brain sciences cross‐sectional study executive function sport skills sports experience |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70212 |
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