Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T07:31:57.907Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Relationship between Physical Prowess and Cognitive Function

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2013

Oscar García López  and
Silvia Burgos Postigo
Oscar García López*
Affiliation:
Universidad Europea de Madrid (Spain)
Silvia Burgos Postigo
Affiliation:
Universidad Europea de Madrid (Spain)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Oscar García. Universidad Europea de Madrid. C/ Tajo s/n. Villaviciosa de Odón. 28670 Madrid (Spain). E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

There is some evidence about the low relationship between physical prowess and cognitive function (Posthuma, Mulder, Boomsma & de Geus, 2002). The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between cognitive variables (spatial ability, reasoning, numerical ability, inductive reasoning, and reasoning and verbal comprehension) and physical prowess in sport performance (agility circuit, coordination circuit, horizontal jump, swimming and sprint racing). Two studies were performance. In the first one we applied a battery of standardized cognitive tests and a battery of physical grading tests to 400 subjects. When we applied factor analysis to the physical prowess and the cognitive variables, we found one general factor in cognitive variables and one general factor in physical prowess. We found a low relationship between both factors (.21). In the second study we compare the cognitive abilities in elite and amateur sport people. Results show that elite gymnastics people present higher cognitive abilities than amateur sportspeople. It should be relevant in order to clarify the total set of variables involved in sport performance.

Existen ciertas evidencias sobre la relación existente entre destreza física y capacidad cognitiva (Posthuma, Mulder, Boomsma y de Geus, 2002). El objetivo de este trabajo es investigar la relación entre variables cognitivas (capacidad espacial, razonamiento, capacidad numérica, razonamiento inductivo y comprensión verbal) y destreza física asociada al rendimiento deportivo (circuito de agilidad, circuito de coordinación, natación, salto horizontal y carrera de velocidad). Para ello se llevaron a cabo dos estudios. En el primero se administró una batería de test cognitivos estandarizados y una batería de pruebas de condición física a 400 sujetos. Se aplicó un análisis factorial para las pruebas de destreza física y otro para las variables cognitivas. Encontramos un factor general asociado a las variables cognitivas y un factor general asociado a la destreza física. La correlación encontrada entre ambos factores fue baja pero significativa (0,21). En el segundo estudio se compararon las capacidades cognitivas en deportistas de élite y amateurs. Los resultados muestran que los deportistas de elite presentan mayores puntuaciones en los test cognitivos que los deportistas amateurs. Estos resultados son relevantes para establecer el conjunto de variables que se asocian al rendimiento deportivo.

Keywords

physical prowesscognitionspatial abilityreasoningdestreza físicacognicióncapacidad espacialrazonamiento
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , March 2012 , pp. 29 - 34
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bennett, G. K., Seashore, H. G., & Wesman, A. G. (1972). DAT Differential Aptitude Test. New York, NY: The Psychological Corporation.Google Scholar
De Juan-Espinosa, M. (1997). Geografía de la inteligencia humana. Las aptitudes cognitivas. [Geography of human intelligence. Cognitive skills]. Madrid, Spain: Pirámide.Google Scholar
Etnier, J. L., Slazar, W., Landers, D. M., Petruzzello, S. J. Han, M., & Nowell, P. (1997). The influence of physical fitness and exercise upon cognitive functioning: A meta-analysis. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 19, 249–274.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gale, C. R., Batty, G. D., Cooper, C., & Deary, I. J. (2009) Psychomotor coordination and intelligence in childhood and health in adulthood-testing the system integrity hypothesis. Psychosomatic Medicine; 71, 675–681. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181a63b2eCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gottfredson, L. S. (1997). Why G matters: The complexity of everyday life. Intelligence, 24, 79–132. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0160-2896(97)90014-3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gottfredson, L. S., & Deary, I. J. (2004). Intelligence predicts health and longevity, but why? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 13, 1–4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0963-7214.2004.01301001.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hillman, C. H., Motl, R. W., Pontifex, M. B., Posthuma, D., Stubbe, J. H., Boomsma, D. I., … de Geus, E. J. (2006). Physical activity and cognitive function in a cross-section of younger and older community-dwelling individuals. Health Psychology, 25, 678–687. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.25.6.678CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hillman, C. H., Weiss, E. P., Hagberg, J. M., & Hatfield, B. D. (2002). The relationship to age and cardiovascular fitness to cognitive and motor processes. Psychophysiology, 39, 303–312. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0048577201393058CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hunt, E. (1995a). Will be we smart enough? A cognitive analysis of the coming workforce. New York, NY: Russell Sage Foundation.Google Scholar
Hunt, E. (1995b). El papel de la inteligencia en la sociedad moderna [The role of intelligence in modern society]. In Andrés-Pueyo, A. & Colom, R. (Comps.), Ciencia y política en la sociedad moderna [Science and politics in modern society]. Madrid, Spain: Biblioteca Nueva.Google Scholar
Hunter, J. E., & Schmidt, F. L. (1996). Intelligence and job performance: economic and social implications. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 2, 447–472. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/1076-8971.2.3-4.447CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kramer, A. F., Hahn, S., Cohen, N., Banich, M., McAuley, E., Harrison, C., … Colcombe, A. (1999). Aging, fitness, and neurocognitive function. Nature, 400, 418–419.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lytle, M. E., Vander Bilt, J., Pandav, R., Dodge, H. H., & Ganguli, M. (2004). Exercise level and cognitive decline: the movies project. Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders, 18, 57–64.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McHenry, J. J., Hought, L. M., Toquam, J. L., Hanson, M. A., & Ashworth, S. (1990). Project A validity results: the relationship between predictor and criterion domains. Personal Psychology, 43, 335–354. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1990.tb01562.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Muthén, B., & Kaplan, D. (1985). A comparison of some methodologies for the factor analysis of non-normal Likert variables. British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology, 38, 171–189. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8317.1985.tb00832.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Neisser, U., Boodoo, G., Bouchard, T., Boykin, A., Brody, N., Ceci, S., … Urbina, S. (1996). Intelligence: Knowns and unknowns. American Psychologist, 51, 77–102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.51.2.77CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Posthuma, D., Mulder, E. J. C., Boomsma, D. I., & de Geus, E. J. (2002). Genetic analysis of IQ, processing speed, and stimulus-response incongruence effects. Biological Psychology, 61, 157–182. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0301-0511(02)00057-1CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richards, M., Hardy, R., & Wadsworth, M. E. (2003). Does active leisure protect cognition? Evidence from a national birth cohort. Social Science and Medicine, 56, 785–792. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(02)00075-8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sanchez Bañuelos, F. (1996). Didáctica de la educación física y el deporte [Teaching physical education and sport]. Madrid, Spain: Gymnos.Google Scholar
Seisdedos, N. (1980). Manual del test de Monedas [Manual of Monedas test]. Madrid, Spain: TEA Ediciones.Google Scholar
Seisdedos, N. (1982). Manual del test de TIG-2 [Manual of TIG-2 test]. Madrid, Spain: TEA Ediciones.Google Scholar
Smith, D., & Bar-Eli, M. (2007). Essential readings in sport and exercise psychology. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers.Google Scholar
Sternberg, R., & Grigorenko, E. (1997). Intelligence, heredity and environment. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Thurstone, L. (1938). Primary mental abilities. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Yaffe, K., Barnes, D., Nevitt, M., Lui, L. Y., & Covinsky, K. (2001). A prospective study of physical activity and cognitive decline in elderly women. Archives of Internal Medicine, 161, 1703–1708.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed