The Impact of Practicing Open- vs. Closed-Skill Sports on Executive Functions
An Updated Meta-Analytic Review with Focus on Characteristics of Sports
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51224/SRXIV.97Keywords:
Executive Functions, Cognitive Functions, Sports Experience, Sport Modes, Cognitive Skill TransferAbstract
Exercise modes can be categorised based on the skills (open vs. closed skills) required, which implicates various demands on cognitive skills, especially executive functions (EFs). Thus, their practice may have varying effects on EFs. There is a lack of detailed analysis of cognitive affordances and a suitable classification of sports. It is hypothesized that the similarity of cognitive affordances leads to small effect sizes when comparing OSE and CSE. The current meta-analysis evaluates the variances in cognitive skills caused by particular sport modes. Four research databases (Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, PsychINFO) were searched for cross-sectional studies that compare the effect of OSE and CSE on EFs. A total of 19 studies were included, revealing an overall effect size of g = 0.174 (p = .157) for OSE versus CSE. The subgroup analysis revealed the effects for various EFs (CF: g = .210 > IC: g = .191 > WM: g = .138; p > .05), which could be characterised as low to moderate. The hypothesis that studies with the smallest effect sizes compare sport modes with similar cognitive demands was rejected. The paper discusses the differentiation of sports into OSE and CSE, and presents new approaches for their categorisation.
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