title: Neural correlates of attentional and executive processing in middle-age fencers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Open-skill sports require high levels of visual attention and fast and flexible decision making and action execution. We evaluated whether these sports may counteract the well-known age-related declines in executive processing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young and middle-age fencers and nonathletes were studied. Participants (N = 40) performed visual motor tasks while reaction times (RTs) and event-related potentials were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RTs were slower for the older subjects, but accuracy was not impaired. At event-related potential level, the late P3 component was delayed in older subjects, but those who participated in sports showed less delay. The RTs of middle-age and young fencers were comparable; the P1 latency of middle-age fencers was similar to that of the younger subjects; the N1 was enhanced in older, as well as younger, fencers; the N2 component of fencers had shorter latencies and larger amplitudes than nonathletes; and in no-go trials, the P3 component was enhanced in fencers independent of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the practice of open-skill sports was associated with improvement of the executive functions that are already degraded at middle age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Education Sciences for Motor Activity and Sport, University of Rome "Foro Italico," Rome, ITALY.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taddei
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bultrini
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Russo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*