A2 Review article, Literature review, Systematic review
Comparison of working memory performance in athletes and non-athletes : a meta-analysis of behavioural studies (2024)

Wu, C., Zhang, C., Li, X., Ye, C., & Astikainen, P. (2024). Comparison of working memory performance in athletes and non-athletes : a meta-analysis of behavioural studies. Memory, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2024.2423812

JYU authors or editors

Wu, Chenxiao
Li, Xueqiao
Ye, Chaoxiong
Astikainen, Piia

Publication details

All authors or editors: Wu, Chenxiao; Zhang, Chenyuan; Li, Xueqiao; Ye, Chaoxiong; Astikainen, Piia

Journal or series: Memory

ISSN: 0965-8211

eISSN: 1464-0686

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 06/11/2024

Volume: Early online

Publisher: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2024.2423812

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/98353

Abstract

The relationship between sports expertise and working memory (WM) has garnered increasing attention in experimental research. However, no meta-analysis has compared WM performance between athletes and non-athletes. This study addresses this gap by comparing WM performance between these groups and investigating potential moderators. A comprehensive literature search identified 21 studies involving 1455 participants from seven databases, including PubMed, Embase, and ProQuest. Athletes primarily engaged in basketball, football, and fencing, while non-athletes included some identified as sedentary. The risk of bias assessment indicated low risk across most domains. Publication bias, assessed through a funnel plot and statistical tests, showed no significant evidence of bias. The forest plot, using a random effects model, revealed moderate heterogeneity. The overall effect size indicated a statistically significant, albeit small, advantage for athletes over non-athletes (Hedges’ g = 0.30), persisting across sports types and performance levels. Notably, this advantage was more pronounced when athletes were contrasted with a sedentary population (Hedges’ g = 0.63), compared to the analysis where the sedentary population was excluded from the non-athlete reference group (Hedges’ g = 0.15). Our findings indicate a consistent link between sports expertise and improved WM performance, while sedentary lifestyles appear to be associated with WM disadvantages.

Keywords: athletes; working memory; cognition; cognitive processes; physical activity; immobility

Free keywords: athletes; working memory; sports; cognition; sedentary lifestyle

Fields of science: