Soccer, also known as football, is the most popular sport in the world. Over 265 million people play soccer regularly. As a highly aerobic sport involving constant motion, soccer provides many physical and mental health benefits. In this article, we’ll explore how playing soccer affects brain health and development.
Soccer increases gray matter in the brain
Several studies have found that playing soccer increases gray matter volume in certain regions of the brain. Gray matter contains neuron cell bodies that process information. More gray matter is linked to better cognitive function.
In one study, researchers performed MRI scans on adult amateur soccer players and non-athletes. The soccer players showed significantly larger gray matter volume in brain areas involved in memory, executive functions, and visuospatial processing.
Another study compared professional soccer players to competitive swimmers. Again, the soccer players had higher gray matter volume in parts of the brain related to cognition and motor skills.
Interestingly, the amount of gray matter correlated with the number of years the athletes had played soccer. Those with more soccer experience showed the largest gray matter increases.
The cognitive improvements from soccer are not just seen at the professional level. One study found children who played soccer for at least three years had higher gray matter volume than children who did not play sports.
Together, these findings demonstrate that playing soccer may induce structural brain changes that support cognitive abilities.
Soccer improves executive functioning
Executive functions are cognitive skills that enable goal-directed behavior. Core executive functions include:
- Inhibitory control
- Working memory
- Cognitive flexibility
- Planning
These skills allow people to focus, retain information, multitask, and reason. Executive functions are critical for learning, productivity, and regulating emotions and behavior.
Many studies reveal soccer players have enhanced executive function. For example, soccer players outperform non-athletes on tests of inhibitory control, which is the ability to override impulses and resist temptations or distractions.
In a study of adolescent soccer players, performance on inhibitory control tests correlated with skill level. The most elite players with the highest soccer rankings demonstrated the strongest inhibitory control.
Similar findings have been shown for working memory, cognitive flexibility, and planning in soccer players compared to non-athletes.
The executive function improvements extend to children who start playing soccer at a young age. Child soccer players have shown better working memory, inhibitory control, and ability to switch between tasks relative to non-sport-playing children.
The cognitive demands of soccer likely drive these executive function gains. Soccer players must retain field and position information, process teammates’ movements, predict opponents’ actions, and inhibit incorrect responses. This mental exercise strengthens executive functions.
Soccer boosts processing speed
Processing speed refers to how rapidly the brain can analyze information and generate signals in response. Fast processing speed supports learning ability and quick reactions.
Soccer players demonstrate enhanced processing speed compared to non-athletes. Experts propose the quick pace of soccer provides speed training for the brain. During games, players must rapidly perceive information, make decisions, and execute skills in a fast-changing dynamic environment.
Interestingly, soccer players show visual and auditory processing speed gains. This suggests regularly playing soccer sharpens mental quickness beyond domain-specific sports vision and hearing.
Child soccer players also exhibit faster cognitive and motor processing versus children who do not play sports. Moreover, children who begin soccer training earlier in life show greater processing speed gains.
Through challenging speed demands, long-term soccer play may improve general brain processing efficiency.
Soccer enhances visuospatial abilities
Visuospatial skills allow people to understand visual representations and spatial relationships. Examples of visuospatial abilities include:
- Mental rotation
- Spatial perception
- Visual memory
These skills are used to navigate environments, estimate distances, manipulate objects, and recognize patterns.
Studies demonstrate soccer players have superior visuospatial skills compared to non-athletes. In particular, soccer athletes excel at mental rotation tasks requiring mentally picturing and rotating objects.
Soccer likely enhances visuospatial skills through constant practice visually tracking moving objects like the ball and teammates. Players must develop strong spatial perception and awareness to succeed.
Interestingly, soccer players show visuospatial advantages using both feet, while non-athletes perform better with their dominant hand. This suggests soccer develops visuospatial skills in a footedness-independent manner.
Soccer may protect against cognitive decline
Some research indicates playing soccer may help minimize age-related cognitive decline and reduce dementia risk in later life.
In one study, recreational adult soccer players demonstrated better memory and focused attention compared to inactive adults of similar age. The soccer players also showed higher cerebral blood flow, suggesting greater brain vascularization.
Another study found middle-aged ex-professional soccer players had superior performance on planning, memory, and multitasking tests relative to controls who did not play soccer. Moreover, the estimated risk of developing neurodegenerative disease was lower for the ex-player group.
While more research is needed, these findings hint lifelong soccer activity may confer brain resilience against neurocognitive disorders like dementia.
Soccer promotes neural plasticity
Neural plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to modify neural connections and behaviors in response to experiences. Plasticity mechanisms like neurogenesis allow the brain to continuously rewire itself.
Aerobic exercise robustly promotes plasticity by increasing production of neurotrophic factors like BDNF, stimulating neurogenesis, and enhancing learning capacity. As a highly aerobic sport, soccer actives these plasticity pathways.
In one study, young adult soccer players showed elevated BDNF and greater cognitive flexibility compared to non-athletes. The soccer players’ BDNF levels correlated with their flexibility scores, highlighting the link between plasticity and cognition.
Through aerobic and cognitive demands, regular soccer likely induces neural remodeling to enable continual skill acquisition and adaptation.
Soccer may reduce risk of traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) from contact sports can cause severe cognitive impairment. However, some research indicates playing soccer may reduce susceptibility to brain trauma.
One study found high school soccer players had lower rates of concussion than football players. The larger field size in soccer allows players to better anticipate opponents and reduce high-speed collisions.
Female soccer players also show lower concussion risk than male football players. Rules disallowing body checking reduce dangerous contacts.
While soccer has lower concussion rates than American football, headers remain a concern. Some studies link frequent headers to TBI and weaker cognitive skills.
Limiting headers may help minimize TBI risk in soccer. More research on headers, concussions, and cognitive outcomes is warranted.
Conclusion
In summary, playing soccer provides diverse cognitive benefits from improved executive functions and enhanced processing speed to greater visuospatial abilities. Soccer training likely induces structural and functional brain changes that support cognition through increased neural plasticity and gray matter in key regions.
The cognitive demands of soccer coupled with the aerobic conditioning effects on the brain drive these neuro-enhancements. Soccer’s dynamic, fast-paced play continually challenges mental and physical skills.
Starting soccer earlier in life maximizes cognitive gains. Soccer may also protect the aging brain by reducing dementia risk and cognitive decline.
While soccer has lower concussion rates than high-impact sports, headers remain a TBI concern requiring more research. But with proper precautions, soccer represents an excellent activity for boosting brain health across the lifespan.