Analysis of the P300 Component in Children Practicing Karate at Different Stages of Biological Maturation: An Investigation of Attention and Working Memory

ObjectivesTo investigate attention and working memory by comparing children who practice Karate with non-Karate practitioners at different stages of biological maturation through P300 amplitude and latency during a Go/No-Go paradigm.MethodsThe P300 component was analyzed at the Fz, Cz, and Pz electrodes in 80 participants divided into two groups: Karate practitioners and non-Karate practitioners. Each group was subdivided by Peak Height Velocity into two maturational levels.ResultsAt Pz, a Group × Peak Height Velocity interaction was found for P300 amplitude (F = 45.85, p < 0.001). At Cz, a Group × Peak Height Velocity interaction was also observed for P300 amplitude (F = 10.41, p = 0.004). At Fz, main effects of Group and Peak Height Velocity were found for P300 amplitude (F = 40.33, p = 0.010; F = 36.73, p = 0.012, respectively) and latency (F = 7.71, p = 0.012; F = 38.37, p = 0.010, respectively). The Karate group showed different electrocortical patterns across electrodes and maturational stages, with lower P300 amplitude in several comparisons and latency effects modulated by biological maturation.ConclusionContrary to the initial hypothesis of higher P300 amplitude in Karate practitioners, Karate practice and biological maturation appear to influence behavioral performance and P300 markers of target-related attentional processing in the opposite direction. The findings suggest altered efficiency in attentional processing and response evaluation rather than a uniform increase in P300 amplitude. Biological maturation should be controlled in future studies.