Cognitive Function of Climbers: An Exploratory Study of Working Memory and Climbing Performance

Abstract

Sport climbing requires a combination of physical and cognitive skills, with working memory (WM) playing a crucial role in performance. This study aimed to investigate the association between WM capacity and climbing ability, while considering potential confounding factors including sex, age, education level, and climbing experience. Additionally, the study compared prefrontal cortex (PFC) hemodynamic responses among different climbing ability groups and sex during WM performance. Twenty-eight climbers participated, with WM assessed using the eCorsi task and PFC hemodynamic responses measured with near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Initial linear regression analyses revealed no association between WM and climbing ability. However, significant associations were found after adjustment for covariates. Specifically, sex (p = .014), sex in conjunction with age (p = .026), sex combined with climbing experience (p = .022), and sex along with education level (p = .038) were identified as significant predictors of differences in WM between Expert and Elite climbers. Additionally, notable differences in PFC hemodynamic responses were observed between Expert and Elite climbers, as well as between sexes during the WM task, providing support for differences in WM capacity. This study contributes to understanding the complex relationship between WM capacity and climbing performance, emphasizing the need to account for influencing factors in assessments.