Effect of One Session of Specific-Futsal Intermittent Endurance Test on Cognitive Function of Beginner Futsal Players

One of the most important features of humans is the existence of excellent cortex functions. Psychologists and researchers in the field of neuroscience have long sought to investigate the cognitive functions of brain. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to investigate changes in cognitive processes during and after one session of specific futsal intermittent endurance test based on transient hypofrontality thesis.

The current study was a field study following a semi experimental design. The statistical population consisted of young futsal players in Quchan city. A total of 12 male beginner futsal players (age: 17.16±.78 years old, height: 171±4.19 cm, and weight: 63.38±6.64 kg) participated in the study. Independent variables were intensity of exercise and time periods (intra-group factor) included before, during, and 1 and 15 minutes after stopping one session of intermittent endurance activity. The dependent variable included the mean of interference scores of word and color stimulus via the stroop test software. The results were analyzed using repeated measures of ANOVA and SPSS (version 20) software.

The results showed that there were significant differences in cognitive interference by stroop test between the time before the start of the test and cognitive function of the fatigue time due to the intermittent endurance test as well as the cognitive function of 1 and 15 minutes of rest after the end of the test and cognitive function due to fatigue (P = 0.05).

According to the results, it seems that transient hypofrontality during physical activity of the futsal intermittent endurance occurs at high intensities. Therefore, it is recommended that futsal coaches use specific decision-making and information processing training to increase their cognitive and psychological capacities in their exercises.