Executive Functions in Elite Athletes

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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In the study, it was aimed to compare the executive functions of elite athletes who do team sports and individual sports with each other and with individuals who do not do sports.

Detailed Description
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In the study, it was aimed to compare the executive functions of elite athletes who do team sports and individual sports with each other and with individuals who do not do sports. 60 elite athletes participating in national and international competitions between the ages of 20-30, affiliated to the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Youth and Sports and federations, and 30 individuals who did not do sports for the control group were included in the study group. Of the elite athletes, 30 were included in the team sports group and 30 in the individual sports group. Executive functions Forward and Backward Digit Span Test, Stroop Test, Trail Making Test A and B form (TMT-A, TMT-B) and Tower of London (ToL) Test evaluated with.

Official Title
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Comparison of the Executive Functions of Elite Team-Sport and Individual-Sport Athletes

Conditions
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Cognitive Change

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Executive Function Assessment


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Be between 20-30 years old Have been doing sports for at least 5 years Being an elite athlete Being actively involved in sports Exclusion Criteria: Having any psychological or neurological disease

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Team Sports<br>30 elite athletes between the ages of 20-30 who are interested in team sports | Behavioral: Executive Function Assessment<br>* Digit Span (Forward and Backward) Test, Stroop Test, Trail Making Test A and B forms, Tower of London Test were used to evaluate executive functions.<br>* Other names: London Tower Test;|
| Individual Sports<br>30 elite athletes between the ages of 20-30 who are interested in individual sports | Behavioral: Executive Function Assessment<br>* Digit Span (Forward and Backward) Test, Stroop Test, Trail Making Test A and B forms, Tower of London Test were used to evaluate executive functions.<br>* Other names: London Tower Test;|
| Control Group<br>30 healthy individuals between the ages of 20-30 who are not interested in sports | Behavioral: Executive Function Assessment<br>* Digit Span (Forward and Backward) Test, Stroop Test, Trail Making Test A and B forms, Tower of London Test were used to evaluate executive functions.<br>* Other names: London Tower Test;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| London Tower Test | The Tower of London test is an executive function test that is particularly sensitive to planning and problem-solving skills. The Tower of London test consists of 2 tower boards and red, blue and green beads. The participant is asked to make the same shape on the tower board of the tester opposite him on his own tower board in the fewest moves. A low total score and a high correct total score indicate good planning and problem-solving abilities. The high score of total rule mistake indicates the negativities in the ability to acquire and control planning and problem-solving behavior under certain rules. The excess of the total time out indicates the difficulty in planning and problem-solving skills at a certain time. The shortness of the onset time indicates effective planning before the problem-solving response begins. The application time and the shortness of the total time indicate the speed of problem-solving. | day 1 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Digit Span Test | The test consists of two parts forward and backward span. The participant is asked to repeat the numbers read in one second intervals in the forward span in the same order. It assesses attention, concentration and short-term memory. In the backward span, the numbers read at one-second intervals are requested to be repeated in reverse order from the end to the beginning. Working memory, which is a component of executive functions, is evaluated. The highest score that can be obtained for the forward span is 8 points, and 7 for the backward span, for a total of 15 points. | day 1 | 
| Stroop Test | The Stroop test evaluates inhibitory control, which is a component of executive functions. On the card we used as test material, the words blue, green, red, yellow are written and painted in a different color than the word. The person is first asked to read the colored words printed unrelated to the color. In the second step, the person is asked to say the color of the colored words written unrelated to the color on which they are printed. The time from the start command to the end, the number of errors and corrections are recorded. The time difference between the two stages constitutes the interference score. Error and correction numbers are calculated. The long duration of interference, errors and corrections indicate that the person's attention is easily distracted and cannot suppress inappropriate stimuli. | day 1 | 
| Trail Making Test | The Trail Making test consists of two parts, A and B. In part A, the participants are asked to combine the circles with numbers randomly scattered on the paper in the correct order and follow each other (1-2-3-4-5...). In section B, there are letters and numbers randomly placed in circles. Participants are asked to combine a letter and a number in the correct sequence (1-A-2-B-3-C-4-D...) consecutively. Time is kept for both sections. The duration is expected to be short. The A part of the TMT evaluates the processing speed based on visual scanning ability, and the B part evaluates the complex attention, planning, set changing, inhibition ability, and following the sequencing. | day 1 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Sports, Elite Athletes, Executive Function, Cognition, Team Sports