Abstract
The study by Madinabeitia-Cabrera et al. (2023), published in Scientific Reports, investigates how different types of physical activity impact executive functions. Comparing basketball (an open-skill sport) to combined endurance and resistance training (closed-skill), the research found that while both improve cognitive performance, basketball provides superior benefits for inhibitory control due to its dynamic and unpredictable environment.
While any exercise is beneficial for brain health, team sports like basketball are particularly effective for sharpening executive functions. They combine physical exertion with high-level cognitive processing, making them a robust 'workout' for the brain.