TY - JOUR
T1 - Higher-level cognitive functions in Dutch elite and sub-elite table tennis players
AU - Elferink-Gemser, Marije T.
AU - Faber, Irene R.
AU - Visscher, Chris
AU - Hung, Tsung Min
AU - De Vries, Sjoerd J.
AU - Nijhuis-Vandersanden, Maria W.G.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Elferink-Gemser et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
PY - 2018/11
Y1 - 2018/11
N2 - This study aimed to investigate the higher-level cognitive functions (i.e. metacognition and executive functions) of Dutch competitive table tennis players to better understand its relevance for performance in this fast and complex sport. Thirty elite (age 16 ± 4) and thirty age and sex-matched sub-elite peers (age 16 ± 5) were assessed on metacognition and executive functions (working memory, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility) using D-KEFS tests. Compared to norm scores, both the Dutch competitive elite and sub-elite table tennis players scored above average on all tests (p < 0.05). MANOVA showed a main effect for performance level (elites outscored sub-elites; p < 0.05). T-tests revealed that elite players make less mistakes on tests for inhibitory control (CWI-3: 0.9 ± 0.9; CWI-4: 1.1 ± 1.2) than subelite players (CWI-3: 1.8 ± 1.1; CWI-4: 2.6 ± 1.5) (p < 0.05). When controlling for training hours in a MANCOVA, no significant main effect of performance level remained (p 0.05). In conclusion, Dutch elite and sub-elite table tennis players are characterized by aboveaverage scores on higher-level cognitive functions compared to norm scores. A relation with performance level has been shown, which may be explained by the greater exposure to table tennis for elite compared to sub-elite players. However, longitudinal research is needed to indicate the direction of this association.
AB - This study aimed to investigate the higher-level cognitive functions (i.e. metacognition and executive functions) of Dutch competitive table tennis players to better understand its relevance for performance in this fast and complex sport. Thirty elite (age 16 ± 4) and thirty age and sex-matched sub-elite peers (age 16 ± 5) were assessed on metacognition and executive functions (working memory, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility) using D-KEFS tests. Compared to norm scores, both the Dutch competitive elite and sub-elite table tennis players scored above average on all tests (p < 0.05). MANOVA showed a main effect for performance level (elites outscored sub-elites; p < 0.05). T-tests revealed that elite players make less mistakes on tests for inhibitory control (CWI-3: 0.9 ± 0.9; CWI-4: 1.1 ± 1.2) than subelite players (CWI-3: 1.8 ± 1.1; CWI-4: 2.6 ± 1.5) (p < 0.05). When controlling for training hours in a MANCOVA, no significant main effect of performance level remained (p 0.05). In conclusion, Dutch elite and sub-elite table tennis players are characterized by aboveaverage scores on higher-level cognitive functions compared to norm scores. A relation with performance level has been shown, which may be explained by the greater exposure to table tennis for elite compared to sub-elite players. However, longitudinal research is needed to indicate the direction of this association.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85056426869
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85056426869#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0206151
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0206151
M3 - Article
C2 - 30403711
AN - SCOPUS:85056426869
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 13
JO - PloS one
JF - PloS one
IS - 11
M1 - e0206151
ER -