Cold Executive Functions and Motor Skill Acquisition: Effects on Learning Speed and Performance of Open vs. Closed Skills Under Psychological Pressure in Novice Athletes

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

1 Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tabriz,Iran.

2 Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

3 Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran. & Head of Brain and Movement Research Group, Research Center of Biosciences and Biotechnology (RCBB), University of Tabriz, Tabriz

Abstract

Objective: Cold executive functions (CEFs), as core cognitive components, play a critical role in motor skill learning and performance among athletes. However, their impact on the learning speed of open versus closed motor skills under psychologically stressful conditions remains underexplored. This quasi-experimental study examined the effects of CEFs on the acquisition and execution of open/closed motor skills under psychological pressure in novice Wushu athletes.
Methods: A pretest-posttest control group design was implemented. Participants included 30 adolescent female novice Wushu athletes (practicing Taolu and Sanda) with high CEFs, randomly assigned to open- or closed-skill training groups. The 4-week intervention comprised three 90-minute sessions/week. Each session involved five 10-trial blocks under standardized conditions. Assessment tools included the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB® 2014), Tentouei (forefoot straight kick technique) motor task, and Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (SSAI; 1970). Data were analyzed via repeated-measures ANOVA using SPSS v23. 
Results: CEFs significantly enhanced the acquisition, retention, and transfer of both open and closed motor skills (p < 0.05). Paradoxically, they exerted an adverse effect on skill execution under psychological pressure (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: While CEFs accelerate learning of open/closed motor skills, they impair performance in high-stress contexts. These findings highlight the dual role of CEFs in motor learning and support evidence-based adjustments in training programs for novice athletes.

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History

  • Receive Date: 24 August 2025
  • Revise Date: 13 October 2025
  • Accept Date: 19 April 2026
  • Publish Date: 22 June 2026

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