BREAKING THE BARRIER: UNVEILING THE ROLE OF COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN PUSHING THE LIMITS OF GYMNASTICS PERFORMANCE Rion Hendrianto, Helmy Firmansyah, dan Jajat Darajat Kusumah Negara
Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
Abstract
Many coaches and athletes in sports often overlook the importance of cognitive function, when in fact cognitive function plays an important role in increasing the athlete^s ability to achieve the best performance. This study aims to reveal the role of cognitive function in expanding the performance boundaries of gymnastic athletes. The method used in this research is correlational. The technique used was purposive sampling, where thirty young athletes (17 girls and 13 boys- mean age 19.61 ± 3.43 years) who are members of the Bandung city gymnastics club took part in this activity. The research instruments used in this study included cognitive function (attention, memory, language, visual, executive function), measurement of attention with a grid exercise concentration test- memory measurement with digit span test- language, visuospatial, and executive function with tests of academic potency. The results of this study indicate that there is a positive relationship between cognitive function and exercise performance. Better cognitive function, especially in terms of fast information processing, sharp attention, and effective problem solving, is significantly associated with an increase in athlete^s gymnastic performance. This research paves the way for further research into the relationship between cognitive function and exercise performance. Further study development could involve longitudinal research to understand changes in athletes^ cognitive function over time, as well as testing cognitive interventions to see their effect on improving gymnastic performance.
Keywords: Cognitive Ability, Motor Control and Gymnastic Performance
