Core executive functions are associated with success in young elite soccer players

Physical capacity and coordination cannot alone predict success in team sports such as soccer. Instead, more focus has been directed towards the importance of cognitive abilities, and it has been suggested that executive functions (EF) are fundamentally important for success in soccer. However, executive functions are going through a steep development from adolescence to adulthood. Moreover, more complex EF involving manipulation of information (higher level EF) develop later than simple executive functions such as those linked to simple working memory capacity (Core EF). The link between EF and success in young soccer players is therefore not obvious. In the present study we investigated whether EF are associated with success in soccer in young elite soccer players. We performed tests measuring core EF (a demanding working memory task involving a variable n-back task; dWM) and higher level EF (Design Fluency test; DF). Color-Word Interference Test and Trail Making Test were performed o...仅依靠身体能力与协调能力，无法预判足球这类团队体育运动的竞技成败。当前学界愈发聚焦认知能力的重要性，并有研究指出，执行功能（executive functions, EF）对足球赛事的竞技成功具有根本性作用。然而，执行功能在青春期至成年阶段会经历快速发育。此外，涉及信息操控的高阶执行功能（higher level EF）的发育进程，要晚于与简单工作记忆容量相关的基础执行功能（Core EF）。因此，执行功能与青年足球运动员竞技表现之间的关联尚不明确。本研究旨在探究青年精英足球运动员的执行功能与足球竞技成败是否存在关联。我们通过测试评估了基础执行功能（一项包含可变n-back任务的高要求工作记忆任务，dWM）与高阶执行功能（设计流畅性测试，DF）。色词干扰测试（Color-Word Interference Test）与连线测验（Trail Making Test）已完成……