Abstract
BackgroundInhibitory control, or the ability to suppress planned but inappropriate prepotent actions in the current environment, plays an important role in the control of human performance. Evidence from empirical studies utilizing a sport-specific design has shown that athletes have superior inhibitory control. However, less is known about whether this superiority might (1) still be seen in a general cognitive task without a sport-related context; (2) be modulated differentially by different sporting expertise (e.g., tennis versus swimming).Methodology/Principal FindingsHere we compared inhibitory control across tennis players, swimmers and sedentary non-athletic controls using a stop-signal task without a sport-specific design. Our primary finding showed that tennis players had shorter stop-signal reaction times (SSRTs) when compared to swimmers and sedentary controls, whereas no difference was found between swimmers and sedentary controls. Importantly, this effect was further confirmed after considering potential confounding factors (e.g., BMI, training experience, estimated levels of physical activity and VO2max), indicative of better ability to inhibit unrequired responses in tennis players.Conclusions/SignificanceThis suggests that fundamental inhibitory control in athletes can benefit from open skill training. Sport with both physical and cognitive demands may provide a potential clinical intervention for those who have difficulties in inhibitory control.
Highlights
The ability to suppress ongoing or planned but inappropriate actions in a given situation requires inhibitory control [1,2]
The aim of the present study was to further determine whether this advantage is modulated differentially according to the nature of the sport undertaken as well as whether it can be seen in a non-sport specific cognitive task
The primary finding of the present study was that the stop signal reaction times (SSRTs) were significant shorter for the tennis players compared to swimmers and sedentary controls, whereas no difference were observed between the swimmers and sedentary controls
Summary
The ability to suppress ongoing or planned but inappropriate actions in a given situation requires inhibitory control [1,2]. Few studies have investigated the effect of sports experience on general cognitive traits (e.g., inhibitory control) [3,4], and in particular the comparison between various sport categories [4]. Following in this vein, the present study explores the differences in inhibitory control between athletes and non-athletes as well as between athletes from two different sport categories (i.e., tennis and swimming). Inhibitory control, or the ability to suppress planned but inappropriate prepotent actions in the current environment, plays an important role in the control of human performance. Less is known about whether this superiority might (1) still be seen in a general cognitive task without a sport-related context; (2) be modulated differentially by different sporting expertise (e.g., tennis versus swimming)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
