Our main aim in this study was to investigate cognitive functioning in young gymnasts. The study group consisted of 86 children, aged 10-12 years: (a) a criterion group of 41 juvenile athletes (Mage = 11.23; SDage = 0.93) who trained six times per week; and (b) a comparison group of 45 children (Mage = 11.11; SDage = 0.61) who were not involved competitively in sports but who were mostly quite physically active. We measured attention, memory processes, and bioelectrical brain activity in the central region (Cz; where there are connections to motor control, movement, and sensation). We found significant differences between our two participant groups in short-term memory, deferred naming memory, and long-term memory of visual material. Children who practiced gymnastics had a better attention span than those who did not, and children who were non-athletes but who undertook physical activity more frequently than five times per week had a different theta/sensory motor rhythm (SMR) brain wave ratio (with SMR higher), meaning that they felt calmer and more relaxed.
Keywords: attention; brain and exercise; cognition; gymnastics; memory; sport-specific skills.