Assesment of Cognitive Skills in Billiards Players

Abstract

In this study, it is aimed to reveal differences between the cognitive skills of the brain such as reaction time, speed distance estimation, nonverbal intelligence between different grade billiards players with numerical data. Research population consisted of professional and amateur male billiards players between the ages of 18-35. Cognitive abilities such as reaction time, speed-distance estimation, and judgment were measured with Vienna Test System (Schuhfried GmbH Moedling, Austria). The data was analyzed by Mann-Whitney U Test and Pearson correlation test. All statistical analysis were calculated using SPSS version 15.0 (SPSS Inc, USA). Reaction time and Speed-Distance Estimates of professional billiards players were statistically significantly higher than amateur billiards players (p=0.034, p=0.012). It was observed that the ability to make decisions under stress was higher in amateur players than in professional billiards players (p=0.155). Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between billiards scores and speed-distance estimation skills in professional billiards players (r=0.102, p=0.766). The test results indicate a positive correlation between players' cognitive skills and billiards scores, while concurrently revealing that stress negatively impacts test scores. It was observed that sport of billiards had a positive effect on cognitive skills, which are upper functions of the brain. It has been determined that billiards may be beneficial for brain development. As a result, it was concluded that it would be beneficial to expand the billiards in educational institutions and throughout country by cooperating with non-governmental organizations such as billiard federation.

Keywords

• Speed
• Distance estimation
• Cognitive skill
• Reaction time
• Brain functions
• Billiards players

Bilardo Oyuncularında Kognitif Becerilerin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Bu çalışmada farklı seviyelerdeki bilardo oyuncuları arasında, reaksiyon süresi, hız mesafe tahmin, nonverbal zekâ gibi beynin kognitif becerileri arasındaki farklılıkların sayısal verilerle ortaya konması amaçlanmaktadır. Araştırma popülasyonunu 18-35 yaş arası profesyonel ve amatör erkek bilardo oyuncuları oluşturmuştur. Tepki süresi, hız-mesafe tahmini ve muhakeme gibi kognitif yetenekler Viyana Test Sistemi (Schuhfried GmbH Moedling, Austria) ile ölçüldü. İstatistiksel analizler Mann-Whitney U Test ve Pearson korelasyon test uygulanarak SPSS 15.0 (SPSS Inc, USA) kullanılarak değerlendirildi. Profesyonel bilardo oyuncularının reaksiyon süresi ve Hız-Mesafe Tahminleri, amatör bilardo oyuncularına göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı derecede yüksek çıkmıştır (p=0,034, p=0,012). Amatör oyuncularda stres altında karar verme yeteneği profesyonel bilardoculara göre daha yüksek olduğu görülmüştür (p=0,155). Ayrıca profesyonel bilardo oyuncularında bilardo puanları ile hız-mesafe tahmin etme becerileri arasında pozitif bir ilişki bulunmuştur (r = 0,102, p = 0,766). Test sonuçları, oyuncular arasında bilişsel beceriler ile bilardo puanları arasında pozitif bir ilişki olduğunu göstermektedir ve stresin test puanları üzerine olumsuz bir etkisi olduğu gösterilmiştir. Bilardo sporunun beynin üst fonksiyonları olan bilişsel beceriler üzerinde olumlu etkisi olduğu gözlemlendi. Bilardonun beyin gelişimi için faydalı olabileceği belirlendi. Sonuç olarak bilardo federasyonu gibi sivil toplum kuruluşları ile iş birlikleri yapılarak bilardonun eğitim kurumlarında ve ülke geneline yaygınlaştırılmasının faydalı olabileceği sonucuna varılmıştır.

Keywords

• Hız
• Mesafe tahmini
• Bilişsel beceri
• Reaksiyon süresi
• Beyin fonksiyonları
• Bilardo oyuncuları

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