Caffeine Supplementation Improves the Cognitive Abilities and Shooting Performance of Trained E-sports Players

Graduate Program in Department of Exercise Health Science, National Taiwan University of Sport

Purpose: investigators explored the effect of 3 mg/kg of caffeine supplementation on the cognitive ability and shooting performance of trained e-sports players. Methods: investigators recruited nine e-sports players who had received professional training in e-sports and had won at least eighth place in national-level e-sports shooting competitions. After performing three to five familiarization tests, investigators employed a randomized crossover design to divide participants into a caffeine trial (CAF) and a placebo trial (PL). The CAF group took capsules with 3 mg/kg of caffeine, whereas the PL group took a placebo capsule. After a 1-h rest, the Stroop task, visual search ability test, and the shooting ability test were conducted.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Caffeine; Placebo
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: caffeine

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 9
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Taichung, Taiwan, 404
    • National Taiwan University of Sport

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• had experience with national competitions and regularly underwent training in first-person shooters

Exclusion Criteria:

• no experience with national competitions and regularly underwent training in first-person shooters
• have any diseases affecting the heart, bones, and joints or diseases that preclude exercise

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: caffeine; capsules with 3 mg/kg of caffeine	Behavioral: caffeine; we employed a randomized crossover design to divide participants into a caffeine trial (CAF) and a placebo trial (PL). The CAF group took capsules with 3 mg/kg of caffeine, whereas the PL group took a placebo capsule. After a 1-h rest, the Stroop task, visual search ability test, and the shooting ability test were conducted.
Placebo Comparator: placebo; The placebo capsule contained flour	Behavioral: caffeine; we employed a randomized crossover design to divide participants into a caffeine trial (CAF) and a placebo trial (PL). The CAF group took capsules with 3 mg/kg of caffeine, whereas the PL group took a placebo capsule. After a 1-h rest, the Stroop task, visual search ability test, and the shooting ability test were conducted.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Stroop task	The color-word Stroop task and visual search test were conducted using Psych/Lab for Windows. The reaction time (millisecond) were recorded.	1 hour after intervention
visual search test	A total of 80 search displays were presented in 5 minutes. In each display, 5, 10, 15, or 20 -Tests were presented. The reaction time (millisecond) were recorded.	1 hour after intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
aim trainer	Participants used the mouse to shoot the electronic targets on the computer screen. The completed time (second) were recorded.	1 hour after intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Taiwan Sport University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): April 30, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 24, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 26, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): August 30, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 30, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 26, 2022
• Last Verified: August 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: caffeine; reaction time
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Enzyme Inhibitors; Purinergic Antagonists; Purinergic Agents; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Caffeine
• Other Study ID Numbers: 111-1

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No