Neuropsychology and Sports Performance

Sports performance is increasingly recognized as a multidimensional construct shaped by physical, psychological, and neurocognitive factors. This review examines the role of neuropsychological processes in influencing athletic performance, with particular emphasis on executive functions, attention, memory systems, perceptual-cognitive skills, and emotional regulation. Drawing on interdisciplinary research from cognitive neuroscience, sport psychology, and motor learning, the paper highlights the importance of neural efficiency, neuroplasticity, and brain network integration in athletic expertise. Furthermore, the review explores the detrimental effects of cognitive fatigue, stress, and injury on performance. Emerging applications such as neurofeedback, cognitive training, and neuropsychological assessment are discussed. The findings suggest that neuropsychological processes are central to sports performance and should be systematically integrated into athlete training and development programs.