A multivariate approach to understanding cognitive functioning in high-performance athletes

With increasing recognition of cognitive functioning in high-performance athletes, understanding these processes may offer insights into training and performance. The current study adopted a multidimensional approach to characterize domain-general cognitive functioning in high-performance athletes by examining the frequency and distribution of high cognitive scores across multiple cognitive domains. The sample consisted of 188 athletes from a training/development organization (nFemale = 109, nMale = 79; Mean age ± SD: 16.56 ± 1.95 years).

Athletes completed a battery of computerized neuropsychological tests assessing a broad range of cognitive abilities, including aspects of working memory, inhibition, attention/concentration, and spatial processing (among others). 87.2% of athletes achieved at least one high score at or above the 75th percentile, 69.7% at or above the 84th, and 53.2% at or above the 91st, whereas only 46.3%, 21.8%, and 9.6% achieved three or more high scores at these thresholds. Moderate positive associations emerged among tasks assessing episodic memory, attention/concentration, verbal reasoning and visuospatial working memory (p < .001). These findings provide a foundation for future research to advance our understanding of athlete cognition and to inform development strategies.

We would like to thank the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario, an athlete development centre, for providing access to their athletes and facilities for the current study. This project was partially funded by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Discovery Grant to Magdalena Wojtowicz. Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON, Canada The authors declare no competing interests.

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To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. Camilleri, C., Johnston, K., Wattie, N. et al. A multivariate approach to understanding cognitive functioning in high-performance athletes.