The effects of cognitive skills on sprint and memory orienteering course performances of orienteering athletes

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of cognitive skills on sprint and memory orienteering course performances of orienteering athletes. Additionally, cognitive demands of orienteering determining sporting performance were aimed to be identified. Method: Thirty-six orienteering athletes older than 18, having at least 2 years experience and competing at elite level participated in this study voluntarily. Their mean age and sport experience were 24,58±4,85 years and 7±83±3,56 years respectively. Participants completed following tests respectively: Cognitrone-Test, VISGED-Visual Memory Test, d2 Test of Attention, Serial Digit Learning Test(SDLT). Participant were randomly placed into two groups and a crossover design was used. While GroupI (n:18) run sprint orienteering course before memory orienteering course, GroupII run memory orienteering course before sprint orienteering course, and between two run, at least 72 hours were allocated to participants for recovery. Athletes' run performances were recorded via GPS watches and Electronic Control System. After data analysis, athletes' course completion times, distance of routes, heart rates and route data were obtained. Results: According to correlation results, a relationship was determined between PR score of VISGED Visual Memory performance and S-route speedmean (r=0,69; p=0,03) and S-route error scores (r=0,70; p=0,04); between SDLT scores and M-course completion time (r= -0,49; p=0,00), M-route distancetotal (r= -0,42; p=0,01) and S-course completion time (r= -0,36; p=0,04). When memory course data of achievement groups were compared, a statistically significant difference in SDLT scores was noted in favor of international achievement group (p>0,05) (p<0,01). Conclusion: While in memory orienteering short term memory, visual memory and selective attention were identified as determinants of performance, it was all of the assessed cognitive features in sprint orienteering. Keywords: Orienteering, attention, memory, visual memory.