THE INFLUENCE OF ATHLETIC ACTIVITY ON COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN YOUTH: NEUROBIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

Young individuals need to practice sports to do better in all areas of their lives. This study should to determine how playing sports affected cognitive functions (inhibitory control) and academic achievement (report card), considering the maturational stage. A total of 50 adolescents, both male and female, between the ages of 10 and 14, were examined and split into two groups: group I (non-sporty), which participated solely in physical education classes at school, and group II (sporty), which participated in extracurricular sports activities. The research study was based on primary data analysis to determine the research used quantitative software and generate results. The 5-digit (FDT) and Go/No-Go tests were used to evaluate inhibitory control. The bone age equation was used to estimate maturity, and grades from school report cards were used to evaluate scholastic achievement. Age at maturity, scores on cognitive tests, and report card grades did not significantly correlate with academic success.  The overall result found a direct and significant link between athletic activity and cognitive function in youth. The cognitive tests showed a notable difference between the two groups. It is concluded that systematic sports practice positively impacts young people's cognitive abilities regardless of the relationship between maturational development, cognitive aspects, and academic performance since athletes demonstrated higher cognitive performance than non-athletes.