Inhibitory control in sport: a systematic review on its relationship with performance and post-error behavioral adaptation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70208/3007.8245.v6.n1.432Keywords:
inhibitory control, athletic performance, post-error behavioral adaptationAbstract
This study presents a systematic review of the evidence on inhibitory control in sport and its relationship to performance and behavioral adaptation. Twenty-three empirical studies identified in the Scopus and PubMed databases were analyzed, considering athletes from different disciplines, ages, and levels of expertise. The results show that athletes perform better on inhibitory control tasks compared to non-athletes, evidenced by shorter reaction times and greater accuracy. Positive associations were also observed between inhibitory control and relevant variables of athletic performance, such as decision-making, anticipation, and motor execution. However, the findings are not entirely consistent, suggesting that this relationship is modulated by factors such as the type of sport, the level of experience, and the specificity of the tasks used. Furthermore, inhibitory control is linked to behavioral regulation processes and post-error adjustment, although this line of inquiry still has limited evidence. Finally, intervention studies indicate that this capacity can be trained, especially through practices that integrate cognitive and motor demands. These findings highlight its relevance to athletic performance and its potential application in training.
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