Sports-Based Cognitive Game Program and Attention in Athletes

This study looked at whether a 12-week sports-based cognitive game program could improve attention and change brain activity in athletes. Ninety-five active athletes from Düzce University were randomly placed into two groups. One group (45 people) took part in a cognitive game program twice a week for 12 weeks, in addition to their regular sports training. Each session lasted 45 minutes and included games designed to build attention, reaction speed, decision-making, and multitasking skills. The other group (50 people) continued their usual sports training without any additional program. Before and after the 12 weeks, all participants completed a paper-and-pencil attention test (the d2 Attention Test) and had a short, painless brain-wave recording (EEG) taken from the forehead area while sitting quietly with their eyes closed. The researchers compared how much each group's attention scores and brain-wave patterns changed over the 12 weeks. The results showed that the group who took part in the cognitive game program improved significantly more in attention performance than the group who did not, and also showed a favorable change in their brain-wave pattern (a lower theta/beta ratio, which is linked to better attention control). The group that continued regular training without the program showed little change in either measure. These findings suggest that adding structured, game-based cognitive training to regular sports training may offer additional benefits for attention and brain function beyond physical training alone.