網球運動經驗對動作準備歷程的影響

The effect of tennis experience on motor preparation

緒論：動作準備歷程對於人類的日常行為中扮演著重要的角色，而此能力對於運動表現更是重要。因此，本研究之目的在於探討長期從事網球運動訓練的運動員，是否能較非運動員表現出較佳的動作準備歷程。本研究採用時間面向的動作準備歷程測量作業－變化性前時距典範 (variable foreperiod paradigm) 探討本研究議題。此外，為了瞭解是否運動員的動作準備能力會連帶地影響到其它認知功能（例如：反應抑制），本研究亦將Go/Nogo的作業設計結合前時距典範，期盼能進一步地瞭解運動經驗、動作準備歷程與認知表現之複雜關係。方法：本研究共招募了24位年齡介於19~28歲之年輕成人參與本實驗，其中有12位於現役大專網球運動員，另外12位為無規律運動習慣之非運動員。結果：本研究發現，網球運動員在單純反應的情境下，當時間不確定性比較高時，可展現出較快的反應時間。此外，運動員組也表現出較小的前時距效應 (foreperiod effect)。然而，上述的結果在需要反應抑制的嘗試（Go/Nogo情境）並沒有顯著的效果，也就是運動與準備歷程的效果沒有反映在Go/Nogo的情境。結論：根據本研究的結果，長期參與網球運動訓練的年輕成人，似乎較不受到時間訊息不確定性的影響，展現出較佳的動作準備歷程。然而，當作業情境加入其它認知歷程如反應抑制時則此效果不再，其原因可能是當需要動員到相同的腦區執行兩種認知歷程時，則較不容易觀察到運動的效果。最後，建立於本研究的發現，建議未來相關研究可嘗試招募不同層級的運動員、不同年齡與性別之參與者以及加入身體適能因子，以更進一步地釐清運動經驗、動作準備歷程與認知功能之複雜關係。

Background: Motor preparation plays an important role in daily human behavior, in particular for sport performance. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate whether tennis players can outperform non-athletes on a motor preparation task. This study adopted a variable foreperiod paradigm to address this issue. In addition, we further examined whether the superior motor preparation in athletes could lead to better other cognitive function (e.g., response inhibition). Therefore, we combined the Go/Nogo and the variable foreperiod design to better understand the complex relationship across athletic experience, motor preparation and cognitive functions. Methods: This study recruited 24 young adults aged 19 to 28 years. Of these, 12 participants were members of the university tennis team, while the other 12 participants belonged to non-athletic students. Results: The findings revealed that tennis players showed better performance in the trials with higher temporal uncertainty in the Simple Go condition. In addition, the tennis players exhibited smaller foreperiod effect. However, such effects were not found in the Go/Nogo condition. Conclusions: Based on the present findings, we suggested that young adults engaging in long-term tennis training might be less affected by temporal uncertainty, resulting in better motor preparation. However, such superiority might be absent when performing a higher cognitive function. The reasons for this may be due to the fact that the athletic superiority in cognitive functioning would be weaken when performing two cognitive processes simultaneously while using the same brain area. Future research is recommended, to include in design larger sample sizes, different athletic expertise levels, different gender or age populations, and other variables related to cognition such as physical fitness.