Decoding the elite soccer player's psychological profile

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Bonettia, Leonardo; Vestberge, Torbjorn; Jafarie, Reza; Seghezzid, Debora; Ingvare, Martin; Kringelbacha, Morten L.; Filgueiras, Alberto; Petrovic, Predrag
• 署名单位: Aarhus University; University of Oxford; University of Oxford; University of Bologna; Karolinska Institutet; Karolinska Institutet; Central Queensland University; Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-8786
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2415126122
• 发表日期: 2025-01-13
• 关键词: perceptual-cognitive expertise; executive functions; performance; sport; intelligence; skill; brain

摘要

Soccer is arguably the most widely followed sport worldwide, and many dream of becoming soccer players. However, only a few manage to achieve this dream, which has cast a significant spotlight on elite soccer players who possess exceptional skills to rise above the rest. Originally, such attention was focused on their great physical abilities. However, recently, a new perspective has emerged, suggesting that being an elite soccer player requires a deep understanding of the game, rapid information processing, and decision- making. This growing attention has led to several studies suggesting higher executive functions in soccer players compared to the general population. Unfortunately, these studies often had small and nonelite samples, focusing mainly on executive func-tions alone without employing advanced machine learning techniques. In this study, we used artificial neural networks to comprehensively investigate the personality traits and cognitive abilities of a sample of 328 participants, including 204 elite soccer players from the top teams in Brazil and Sweden. Our findings indicate that elite soccer players demonstrate heightened planning and memory capacities, enhanced executive functions, especially cognitive flexibility, elevated levels of conscientiousness, extraversion, and openness to experience, coupled with reduced neuroticism and agreeableness. This research provides insights into the psychology of elite soccer players, holding significance for talent identification, development strategies in soccer, and understanding the psychological traits and cognitive abilities linked to success.