Cognition plays a key role in sports performance. This meta-analytic review synthesizes research that examined the relationship between cognitive functions, skills, and sports performance. We identified literature by searching Cochrane Library, APA PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science. We included studies conducted on competitive athletes, assessed cognitive prerequisites, and included performance measures related to the sport. Of the 9,433 screened records, 136 reports were included, containing 142 studies, 1,227 effect sizes, and 8,860 participants. Only 11 studies used a prospective study design. The risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies. The multilevel meta-analysis showed a medium effect size for the overall difference in cognitive functions and skills, with higher skilled athletes scoring better than lower skilled athletes (Hedges’ g = 0.59, 95% CI [0.49, 0.69]). The moderator analysis showed larger effect size for tests of cognitive decision-making skills (g = 0.77, 95% CI [0.6, 0.94]) compared to basic (g = 0.39, 95% CI [0.21, 0.56]) and higher cognitive functions (g = 0.44, 95% CI [0.26, 0.62]), as well as larger effect for sport-specific task stimuli compared to general ones. We report that higher skilled athletes perform better on cognitive function tests than lower skilled athletes. There was insufficient evidence to determine whether cognitive functions and skills can predict future sport performance. We found no evidence to support claims that tests of general cognitive functions, such as executive functioning, should be used by practitioners for talent identification or player selection.

中文翻译：

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特定领域和一般领域认知功能和技能在运动表现中的作用：荟萃分析。

认知在运动表现中起着关键作用。这篇荟萃分析综述综合了研究认知功能、技能和运动表现之间关系的研究。我们通过搜索 Cochrane Library、APA PsycINFO、PubMed 和 Web of Science 来确定文献。我们纳入了对竞技运动员进行的研究，评估了认知先决条件，并纳入了与这项运动相关的表现测量。在 9,433 条筛选记录中，包括 136 份报告，包含 142 项研究、1,227 个效应量和 8,860 名参与者。只有 11 项研究使用了前瞻性研究设计。使用非随机研究的偏倚风险评估工具评估偏倚风险。多层次荟萃分析显示，认知功能和技能的总体差异具有中等效应量，高技能运动员的得分高于低技能运动员（Hedges' g = 0.59, 95% CI [0.49, 0.69]）。调节器分析显示，与基本 (g = 0.39, 95% CI [0.21, 0.56]) 和更高的认知功能相比，认知决策技能测试的效应量更大 (g = 0.77, 95% CI [0.6, 0.94]) （g = 0.44, 95% CI [0.26, 0.62]），以及与一般任务刺激相比对运动特定任务刺激的影响更大。我们报告说，技术水平较高的运动员在认知功能测试中的表现优于技术水平较低的运动员。没有足够的证据来确定认知功能和技能是否可以预测未来的运动表现。我们没有发现任何证据支持关于一般认知功能测试（例如执行功能）的说法，