Sports’ Relationship with Reaction Time and Working Memory Capacity
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Date
2023
Authors
Graham, Derek
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
This paper examines different relationships between reaction time and working memory capacity in athletes and non-athletes. It also examines relationships between reaction time and working memory with different types of athletes sorted by time spent playing sports and the sport the athlete plays. This experiment found evidence that supports current theories that athletes have faster reaction times than non-athletes. It found no relationship between working memory capacity and athletes, however certain sports showed potential. Athletes with more years of sports experience performed worse on each task, although most were not significant. Finally, Basketball players were found to have significantly faster reaction time than non-athletes and Football players significantly outperformed non-athletes on one working memory task. Soccer and Volleyball players all had higher average mean scores on the three working memory tasks than non-athletes. However these were not significant. Football players also outperformed non-athletes on two of the three working memory tasks, one of which was significant and barely underperformed on the other task. These findings indicate there might be a potential for athletes from these three sports to have higher working memory capacity than non-athletes. This study struggles due to small sample sizes for specific sports. Future studies should aim to recruit a set amount of athletes from each different sport to prevent this issue.
Description
37 pages
Keywords
Sports, Working Memory Capacity, Reaction Time, Working Memory