The Influence of a Competitive Field Hockey Match on Cognitive Function

Abstract

Despite the known positive effects of acute exercise on cognition, the effects of a competitive team sport match are unknown. In a randomized crossover design, 20 female and 17 male field hockey players (19.7 ± 1.2 years) completed a battery of cognitive tests (Visual Search, Stroop, Corsi Blocks, and Rapid Visual Information Processing) prior to, at half-time, and immediately following a competitive match (or control trial of seated rest); with effect sizes (ES) presented as raw ES from mixed effect models. Blood samples were collected prior to and following the match and control trial, and analyzed for adrenaline, noradrenaline, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cathepsin B, and cortisol. The match improved response times for a simple perception task at full-time (ES = –14 ms; P < 0.01) and response times on the complex executive function task improved at half-time (ES = –44 ms; P < 0.01). Working memory declined at full-time on the match (ES = –0.6 blocks; P < 0.01). The change in working memory was negatively correlated with increases in cortisol (r = –0.314, P = 0.01; medium), as was the change in simple perception response time and the change in noradrenaline concentration (r = –0.284, P = 0.01; small to medium). This study is the first to highlight the effects a competitive hockey match can have on cognition. These findings have implications for performance optimization, as understanding the influence on specific cognitive domains across a match allows for the investigation into strategies to improve these aspects.

The Relationship Between Exercise, Cathepsin B, and Cognitive Functions: Systematic Review

“…Three studies showed that CTSB levels did not change after chronic and acute exercise: Gourgouvelis et al (2018) demonstrated that eight weeks of exercise did not change plasma CTSB levels in young adults, and Nicolini et al (2019) demonstrated that 6 weeks of HIIT did not change serum CTSB levels in young males. Malcolm et al (2022) demonstrated that acute field hockey match did not change plasma CTSB levels in young athletes.…”

“…All eight included studies were published between 2016–2022 and had been conducted in six countries (Canada: 2, Poland:1, Spain:1, Turkey:1, UK: 1, USA: 2). Six studies used experimental designs (Gaitán et al, 2021; Gourgouvelis et al, 2018; Micielska et al, 2021; Moon et al, 2016; Nicolini et al, 2019 Malcolm et al, 2022), one study had a cross-sectional design (De la Rosa et al, 2019), and one study had both cross-sectional and experimental sections (Gokce et al, 2021). The sample size ranged from 18 to 68 participants.…”

“…One study assessed both the effects of long-term exercise (from 5 to 10 years) and acute aerobic exercise (40 minutes, moderate intensity) performed by the same participants (Gokce et al, 2021). One study assessed an acute exercise effect (field hockey match) (Malcolm et al, 2022). In five studies, training was supervised by a qualified exercise professional (Gaitan et al, 2021; Gourgouvelis et al, 2018; Gokce et al, 2021; Micielska et al, 2021; Nicolini et al, 2019).…”

“…Six studies assessed CTSB in plasma (De la Rosa et al, 2019; Gaitan et al, 2021; Gourgouvelis et al, 2018; Malcolm et al, 2022; Micielska et al, 2021; Moon et al, 2016), whereas two studies assessed CTSB in serum (Gokce et al, 2021; Nicolini et al, 2019). Studies involving acute and chronic exercise interventions assessed CTSB levels twice - at baseline and at post-exercise.…”

“…The included studies used a variety of cognitive performance measurement systems, including the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) (De la Rosa et al, 2019; Gourgouvelis et al, 2018; Nicolini et al, 2019), a computerized battery, the Vienna Test System (Micielska et al, 2021), and batteries developed by the technicians of the studies (Gaitan et al, 2021; Gokce et al, 2021; Malcolm et al, 2022). One study did not explicitly describe the cognitive test battery (Moon et al, 2016).…”