Visuospatial abilities and cardiorespiratory fitness in amateur sport climbers: a cross-sectional study with healthy controls.

Background: Previous research has suggested a potential link between specific cognitive functions, fitness, and various sports disciplines, yet the findings remain inconsistent. This study aimed to explore visuospatial functions and cardiorespiratory fitness in beginner and more advanced amateur sport climbers compared to healthy controls.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used Guay's Visualization of Viewpoints task (GVV), the Ruff Figural Fluency Test (RFFT), the Corsi Block-Tapping Test (Corsi test), and the Simple Visual Reaction Time task (SVRT) to primarily assess visuospatial functions. Climbing experience (years, hardest sport climbing route completed) and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max via the Chester Step Test) were measured. All participants were assessed for anxiety levels using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory prior to the cognitive function assessment. Participants (female N.=48, male N.=46, mean age 30.23±5.62) were divided into three groups: experienced climbers (N.=29), beginner climbers (N.=31), and healthy non-climbers as a control group (N.=34).

Results: There were no statistically significant differences in cognitive performance between the three groups. However, higher VO2max correlated with better performance on the GVV in the entire sample, as well as in women separately and climbers (both men and women). Additionally, among experienced climbers, GVV performance correlated with the hardest climbing route they had completed. Male climbers who climbed more frequently each week demonstrated better executive function, as indicated by generating more unique geometric patterns in the RFFT. Overall, being physically active was associated with shorter SVRT. Lastly, men significantly outperformed women on both the GVV and SVRT. Trait anxiety, which was significantly higher in women, negatively correlated with GVV scores.

Conclusions: We found no significant differences in visuospatial performance or cardiorespiratory fitness among beginner climbers, experienced climbers, and non-climbers. However, both cardiorespiratory fitness and climbing achievements were positively associated with better visuospatial abilities. While women scored lower than men on the GVV and SVRT tests, higher cardiorespiratory fitness was linked to improved GVV performance in female participants.