Author(s): FROYD, C., ZANLORENSI, D.S., CABRAL, L.L., FONTES, E.B., PEREIRA, G., Institution: WESTERN NORWAY UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES, Country: NORWAY, Abstract-ID: 1889

INTRODUCTION:
Regular physical activity in children is related to an improvement of cognitive functioning, with benefits to memory, attention and the development of executive functions. Therefore, investigating cerebral aspects may help to understand the relationship between a cognitive test and physical fitness of young girls who play soccer. The current study aimed to explore the correlation between physical fitness, reaction time and cerebral oxygenation during an inhibitory control test of young girls’ soccer players.
METHODS:
Twenty girls, from 9 to 14 years old, from FutDelas UFPR Brazilian project, participated in this study. Four physical fitness tests were evaluated, 20-meter modified T test related to agility (running time), 20-meter sprint test related to speed (running time), horizontal jump test related to the lower limb power (jump length) and the Yo-Yo Intermittent recovery test for children (YYIR1C) related to aerobic power (running distance). The inhibitory control was measured with a computerized Stroop cognitive test evaluated throughout the reaction time, concomitant with the hemodynamic response function (HRF) of cerebral oxygenation, which was evaluated with a functional near infra-red spectroscopy device (fNIRS). For statistical analysis, a Pearson correlation was applied between the dependent variables in the physical fitness tests (i.e., agility, speed, lower limb and aerobic power), the reaction time and the HRF of cerebral oxygenation.
RESULTS:
A moderate negative correlation was observed between the reaction time and lower limb power (r=-0.77; p=0.012), and a moderate positive correlation between reaction time and one left dorsolateral channel (F3-F5, r=0.705; p=0.034). Moderate to very strong correlations were observed between cerebral oxygenation in the pre-frontal cortex, in both right dorsolateral and medial channels, with performance of the agility (F4-AF8, r=-0.705; p=0.034; AF4-F2, r=-0.762; p=0.017; AF4-AF8, r=-0.748; p=0.02; AF3-Fpz, r=-0.673; p=0.047) and lower limb power (F4-AF8, r=0.781; p=0.022; AF4-AF8, r=0.798; p=0.018; AF4-Fpz, r=0.841; p=0.009), and one medial channel with the aerobic power (AF3-Fpz, r=0.903; p=0.005).
CONCLUSION:
A lower reaction time during Stroop Test was associated with a greater lower limb power and a greater dorsolateral cerebral activation, which refers to the inhibitory control area. These findings suggest that the inhibition was more pronounced to perform the test due to its complexity. A higher activation of the dorsolateral (i.e., responsible for the inhibitory control) and medial (i.e., responsible for self-monitoring) areas were related to a better performance in the tests of agility, lower limb power and aerobic power. These cerebral functions may be more activated during these tests to improve performance by blocking unwanted movements and adjust the decision making to maintain, which occurs similarly with the development of the Stroop test.