Researchers have found that basketball is a powerful way to promote mental health, self-confidence, and self-esteem. Players have to quickly, mentally “assess what’s happening on the court and react immediately and effectively”. It’s the rapid decision-making that helps to develop brain cells.
The game involves a degree of agility to make instant stops, jumps, turns, and fast movements. For 40 minutes of playing time, the researchers pointed out that the player runs around 5-7 km, so you’ll also be burning those calories and getting a solid workout in. It’s clear that basketball is good news for your brain health, but researchers wanted to see whether playing basketball improves brain function more than doing typical gym workouts, such as weight training, running, or cycling. How does doing different types of exercise impact your executive functioning, such as your working memory and impulse control?
The study
In a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers placed 50 young adults into three groups:
- Basketball group — Played basketball frequently.
- Aerobic and resistance training group — Performed a mix of weight training and cardio.
- Control group — Mostly inactive (low amount of physical activity).
The study took place over four months, and researchers tested executive functions, such as:
- Working memory.
- Cognitive flexibility (how well individuals switched between tasks).
- Inhibition control (how well individuals can stop themselves from acting on impulse).
Before the study intervention, the researchers ensured there were no significant differences between the groups in age, body mass index, fitness, and cognitive variables. Both groups also trained at the same intensity.
The results
The researchers revealed that:
- Playing basketball regularly improved working memory and inhibition control.
- Those in the cardio and weights group also improved inhibition control and cognitive flexibility (shifting between tasks).
- Those in the mostly inactive control group got worse inhibition control over time.
Concluding thoughts
Basketball doesn’t just train your body; playing this fun sport also trains your brain. In just four months, this study shows that playing basketball regularly can enhance executive functioning, including improving your memory and impulse control, which could help you perform better at work and in other areas of life. Overall, the most noticeable difference was with inhibition control, where basketball took the lead.
Exercises and sports like basketball that make you think and react quickly are especially beneficial for your brain and for boosting brain skills, according to this study, at least, maybe even more so than traditional gym workouts. When you’re next considering switching up your workout routine, maybe it’s time to step onto the basketball court.
