In the dynamic world of professional soccer, players often face not only physical challenges but also mental ones.
Read more: The Impact of Cognitive Effort and Auditory Distractions on Professional Soccer PlayersA recent study led by Maria E.C. Ferreira and colleagues, published in the Psychology of Sport and Exercise journal, Volume 70, 2024, delves deep into this aspect. The study, titled “Prolonged cognitive effort impairs inhibitory control and causes significant mental fatigue after an endurance session with an auditive distractor in professional soccer players,” examines the acute effects of cognitive effort and auditory distractions on players.
Background of the Study
During official soccer matches, players are subjected to numerous distractions. Notably, crowd cheers are a significant auditory distraction that can impair cognitive functions essential for a player’s performance. These include the cognitive interference control system and the multiple object tracking (MOT) skill. Additionally, such distractions can influence heart rate variability (HRV) and increase mental fatigue. Interestingly, the study suggests that the impairment in cognitive functions might not be immediate but could manifest after the game, emphasizing the importance of understanding the recovery time course for these cognitive functions after prolonged physical and mental exertion.
Study’s Purpose and Methodology
The study’s primary goal was to analyze the immediate effect of cognitive effort and auditory distraction during a prolonged endurance session on various parameters: inhibitory control, subjective mental fatigue, MOT skill, and HRV in professional soccer players. To this end, the researchers recruited twenty professional male soccer players and subjected them to different experimental conditions. These included endurance training alone and in combination with MOT tasks and auditory distractions (AD), such as crowd noise and coaches’ voices. The participants’ cognitive effort was measured using the incongruent Stroop task and an eye-tracker. Assessments were conducted before, after 30 minutes, and 24 hours post the endurance training to gauge the acute effects.
Findings of the Study
The results were quite revealing. The study found no significant interaction between the condition and time for the accuracy of inhibitory control. However, there was a notable condition × time interaction for the response time of inhibitory control. Specifically, the endurance sessions combined with MOT tasks and auditory distractions resulted in a higher response time, indicating impaired inhibitory control. Similarly, these conditions also led to a higher subjective mental fatigue. Interestingly, the study did not observe any significant interaction for HRV.
Conclusions and Implications
The findings are crucial for understanding the mental demands on professional soccer players. The study concludes that cognitive effort during prolonged endurance sessions impairs inhibitory control and increases mental fatigue. This does not, however, significantly enhance MOT skill or HRV. Such insights are invaluable for coaches and trainers in designing training programs and recovery protocols. It underscores the need for a holistic approach that considers both physical endurance and cognitive resilience in professional soccer training.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the study by Ferreira and her team opens a new window into the mental aspects of soccer. It highlights the importance of cognitive training and the management of auditory distractions in enhancing a player’s overall performance. As the sports world evolves, such studies become pivotal in shaping future training methodologies for professional athletes.
Source
Ferreira, M. E. C., Lima-Junior, D., Faro, H., Roelands, B., & Fortes, L. S. (2024). Prolonged cognitive effort impairs inhibitory control and causes significant mental fatigue after an endurance session with an auditive distractor in professional soccer players. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 70, 102533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102533.