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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: oscar.garcia@uem.es
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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

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