The evidence has shown some discrepancy regarding the relevance or incidence of executive functions in closed-skill sports, specifically artistic gymnastics. More specifically, no studies have examined the relationships between executive functions and the different apparatus in competition, taking into account their distinct characteristics. The present study aimed to analyse the correlations between executive functions – specifically inhibition (IN), working memory (WM), cognitive flexibility (CF), and their general index (EF)—and the sports performance of adult male artistic gymnasts on the six competition apparatus: floor (FX), pommels (PH), rings (SR), vault (VT), parallel bars (PB), high bar (BH), and the all-around (AA). Seven elite adult gymnasts and seven adult controls with no gymnastics experience participated. Sports performance was evaluated using the final competition score for each apparatus, and executive function performance was assessed with the Yellow Red test, which comprises six neuropsychological tests. Significant relationships were found between PH and EF, and between AA and WM. No significant differences were found between gymnasts and the control group in executive function performance. Sports performance in male gymnasts is related to WM, which is consistent with previous studies, but not to executive processes such as IN or CF. The relationship is established with the six apparatus in general, without differentiation. Further studies are needed to explore EF performance related to artistic gymnastics in general and its specificity by apparatus.
Leroy Donoso Usen (Sat,) studied this question.
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