Niemtiah Ouattara

Context: In modern team sports such as basketball, athletic performance plays a central role, both in promoting athletes and in the attractiveness of the discipline. It directly conditions collective and individual success. However, in the African competitive context, the cognitive determinants of this performance, particularly the role of attentional mechanisms such as divided attention, remain insufficiently explored. Objective: This study evaluates the influence of divided attention on the athletic performance of basketball players from the Sports Association of the National Institute of Youth and Sports of Abidjan. Methodology: The study is analytical, cross-sectional and quantitative. It is conducted using a sample of 36 athletes (18 men and 18 women) playing in the second division of the national basketball championship. For data collection, a neuropsychological test (symbol grid) is used to assess divided attention and a match observation grid to measure sports performance in 3-on-3 (3 x 3) format matches. Results: The results show that women have a higher visual accuracy rate and a higher level of divided attention than men. However, memory accuracy does not show a significant difference between the sexes. The level of divided attention does not vary significantly depending on the outcome of the match. Technical-tactical performances, such as rebounds and assists, are influenced by the level of divided attention, while interceptions do not seem to depend on attention. Finally, game errors, such as turnovers and fouls, are influenced by the level of divided attention. Conclusion: The study concludes that divided attention positively influences certain sports performances in basketball players, including rebounds and assists, but has no significant impact on shooting performances. She therefore suggests integrating cognitive training into the preparation of study subjects to optimize their specific skills.

The African grasscutter (AGC) (Thryonomys swinderianus) is the second largest rodent in sub‐Saharan Africa. It is bred for its organoleptic and culinary properties but also serves as a research model. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between age‐related changes in brain weight, brain volume, and spatial and nonspatial memory performance in the AGC. A total of forty‐two (42) captive‐derived AGCs were divided into seven age groups: 6 neonates (6 days), 6 juveniles (1 month), 6 pubertals (3 months), 6 subadults (8 months), 6 young adults (2 years), 6 middle adults (4 years), and 6 old adults (5 years). The subjects were given a series of tests to assess their spatial memory (location test) and their nonspatial memory (object recognition test). Brain samples were then collected using basic neuroanatomical techniques. The weight and volume of the brain samples were determined and their encephalization quotient (EQ) was also calculated. The results showed that spatial and nonspatial memory in AGC develops into adulthood and then declines with age. Mean brain weight increased from neonates to mid‐adulthood (5.20 ± 0.31 g–11.76 ± 0.23 g) and decreased in older AGC (11.75 ± 0.22 g). In contrast, the mean weight of the olfactory bulb (OB) increased from neonates to young adults (0.28 ± 0.02 g–0.80 ± 0.03 g) and the cerebellum increased from neonates to older (0.59 ± 0 0.01 g–1.86 ± 0.06 g). Finally, the EQ decreased with age (0.73 ± 0.05–0.29 ± 0.01). Mean brain volume increased with age from neonates to young adult (5 mL–11.25 mL). Conversely, the mean volume of the OB and cerebellum increases from neonates to older age (0.33 ± 0.03 mL–0.95 ± 0.04 mL). This study shows that spatial and nonspatial memory declines during the aging process in AGC. Neonates and juveniles have higher cognitive abilities than adults and older AGC. The weight of the brain, OB, and cerebellum increases from neonates to adult and decreases slightly from middle to old adults. However, the volume of the OB and cerebellum increases with age.