Specific relations of visual skills and executive functions in elite soccer players

Abstract

Visual and cognitive skills are key to successful functioning in highly demanding settings such as elite sports. However, their mutual influence and interdependencies are not sufficiently understood yet. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between visual skills and executive functions in elite soccer players. Fifty-nine male elite soccer players (age: 18–34 years) performed tests assessing visual clarity (left-, right-, and both eyes), contrast sensitivity, near-far quickness, and hand-eye coordination. Executive function measures included working memory capacity, cognitive flexibility, inhibition and selective attention. Overall, visual abilities were largely correlated with executive functions. Near-far quickness performance showed a large correlation with an executive function total score as well as with cognitive flexibility, working memory, and especially selective attention. Visual clarity and contrast sensitivity were moderately correlated with the cognition total score. Most consistent correlations with the visual functions were present for working memory. These findings present an overall vision-cognition relationship but also very specific linkages among subcategories of these functions, especially meaningful relations between near-far quickness, selective attention and cognitive flexibility. Further studies are needed to investigate the neuropsychological mechanisms accounting for the correlations and possible improvements of the executive functions by training specific visual skills.

The effects of visual skills training on cognitive and executive functions in stroke patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis

“…Correlations between the improvement of visual skills and certain subdomains of cognitive functions have been scarcely explored in the literature. Only Knöllner et al [ 98 ] investigated the connection between visual skills and executive functions and referred to the strongest correlation between visual skills and working memory function. Regarding time since stroke, the studies with the longest time since stroke showed negative and the lowest positive effects for visual processing speed [ 84 , 90 ] and negative effects for cognitive flexibility [ 84 ].…”

Soccer’s AI transformation: deep learning’s analysis of soccer’s pandemic research evolution

“…Additionally, studies from the pre-COVID-19 period on soccer players’ visual skills were categorized as “performance” ( Song et al, 2019 ; Bekris et al, 2020 ). However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Topic Area “Performance-Visual Skill” disappeared, and cognitive keywords that are important in visual-skill research emerged, which could be interpreted as a topic area in the field of psychology ( Casella et al, 2022 ; Knollner et al, 2022 ). Soccer players’ psychological state can be attributed to both self-influences and external/environmental factors ( Schinke et al, 2018 ).…”

Effects of Psychological Interventions on Performance Anxiety in Performing Artists and Athletes: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

“…Follow-up-testing post-intervention, which was implemented in some of the reviewed studies, therefore also seems appropriate and may be recommended for prospective studies to determine whether longer-term effects of an intervention have been obtained. Furthermore, cognitive load theory proposes an overload of working memory capacity during performance anxiety, and current evidence states the essential role of working memory for visual skills that are crucial for athletic performance [85,86]. Therefore, another worthwhile aspect for future research and interventions may be examining the link between visual skills and performance anxiety.…”