Neural Correlates of Attentional and Executive Processing in Middle-Aged Fencers

PURPOSE: Open-skill sports requires high levels of visual attention, fast and flexible decision making and action execution. We evaluated whether these sports may counteract the well known age-related declines in executive processing. METHODS: Young and middle-age fencers and non-athletes were studied. Participants (N=40) performed visual motor tasks while reaction times (RTs) and event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. RESULTS: RTs were slower for the older subjects, but accuracy was not impaired. At ERP level, the late P3 component was delayed in older subjects, but those who participated in sports showed less delay. The RTs of middle-aged and young fencers were comparable; the P1 latency of middle-age fencers was similar to the younger subjects; the N1 was enhanced in older, as well as younger, fencers; the N2 component of fencers had shorter latencies and larger amplitudes than non-athletes; and in no-go trials, the P3 component was enhanced in fencers independent of age. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the practice of an open-skill sports was associated with improvement of the executive functions that are already degraded at middle age.