Сognitive abilities of athletes and non-athletes: a comparative analysis of memory processes

Memory, as a key cognitive function, provides the ability to accumulate experience, form behavioral strategies, and adapt to changes in the environment. Of particular interest is the comparison of cognitive characteristics of athletes and individuals who do not engage in professional sports, since physical activity is a tool that has a powerful impact on all human cognitive functions. The aim of this study is to systematize and analyze data on cognitive differences concerning memory processes between athletes and non-athletes. Materials and methods. The study involved 2 groups of respondents studying full-time at KSU named after K. E .Tsiolkovsky in their 2nd and 3rd years: a group of students regularly engaged in the volleyball (at least 3 times a week) (n=10); a group of students engaged in physical education once a week as part of practical classes (n=10). To study short-term memory, the methods “memorizing numbers” and “semantic memory” were used. Results of the study and their discussion. Students who regularly participate in the sports section have higher results in almost all the studied indicators, and the differences in the indicators of memorizing numbers and the number of missed words in the 2 series of the “Semantic Memory” method are statistically significant. Conclusions. Physical activity and the specificity of sports activities contribute to the improvement of working, episodic and spatial aspects of memory. These differences are mediated by both neurophysiological mechanisms and psychological characteristics of the athlete's personality. However, it should be noted that questions remain open about whether the existing cognitive differences are a consequence of sports participation or a previous individual predisposition to high cognitive efficiency.