The Effect of Long-term Virtual Reality-based Motor Imagery Exercise Intervention on Executive Performance in Competitive Shooting Athlete (VRMI-ShootEF)

April 7, 2026 updated by: Xiaodong Cheng

The Effect of Long-Term Virtual Reality-Based Motor Imagery Exercise Intervention on Executive Performance in Competitive Shooting Athletes

This study evaluates whether a 12-week virtual reality-based motor imagery (VRMI) training program can improve executive function and shooting performance in competitive 10-meter air pistol athletes. The study compares VRMI with traditional exercise training and a control condition consisting of health education videos.

Eligible athletes are assigned to one of the three groups and complete the assigned intervention for 12 weeks. Before and after the intervention, participants complete a virtual reality shooting competition and cognitive testing. The study measures shooting performance, visual attention using eye-tracking, prefrontal cortex activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and salivary neurotransmitter levels.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether VRMI is a useful training method for improving attention control, executive function, and performance in precision shooting athletes.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Executive function is an important cognitive ability in precision sports such as 10-meter air pistol shooting, where athletes must maintain attention on task-relevant cues while resisting distraction from task-irrelevant information. Motor imagery has been widely used in sport training, but traditional imagery methods may be limited by reduced immersion and lower ecological validity. Virtual reality-based motor imagery (VRMI) may provide a more realistic and engaging training environment by combining immersive virtual scenes with structured imagery practice.

This study is designed to compare the effects of a 12-week VRMI intervention with traditional exercise training and a control condition in competitive shooting athletes. The aim is to examine whether VRMI can provide greater benefits for executive function and shooting-related performance than conventional training approaches.

Participants complete one of three intervention conditions over 12 weeks. The VRMI program uses virtual reality equipment to deliver relaxation, observation, guided motor imagery, and movement practice in a simulated sport environment. The exercise group completes a parallel training program using traditional exercise and video-based methods. The control group watches health education videos for the same duration.

To evaluate the effects of the interventions, participants are assessed before and after the intervention period during a virtual reality shooting competition and cognitive testing procedures. The study examines performance, attention allocation, and brain-related responses associated with executive control in order to better understand the potential value of VRMI as a training strategy for precision sport athletes.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

134

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • China
    • Beijing Municipality
      • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China, 100191
        • Capital University of Physical Education And Sports

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy volunteers aged 20 to 26 years.
  • Right-handed.
  • Normal or corrected-to-normal vision.
  • No history of neurological disorders affecting motor performance.
  • No history of psychiatric disorders affecting motor performance.
  • No history of musculoskeletal disorders affecting motor performance.
  • Willing and able to participate in the 12-week training program.
  • Willing and able to follow all study procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current injury affecting upper limb movement.
  • Past injury affecting upper limb movement or fine motor skills.
  • Sleep disorders during the intervention period.
  • Irregular sleep patterns during the intervention period.
  • Participation in other structured shooting training programs during the study.
  • Participation in other motor imagery training programs during the study.
  • Expected attendance at less than 80% of training sessions.
  • Use of medications that may affect cognitive function.
  • Use of medications that may affect motor function.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: VRMI Training (Experimental Intervention)
Participants receive Virtual Reality Motor Imagery (VRMI) training, which includes progressive muscle relaxation, 3D demonstration, guided motor imagery, and physical practice. Sessions are 25 minutes long, 3 times per week, for 12 weeks. This arm aims to improve shooting performance, executive function, and visual attention.
Behavioral: Virtual Reality Motor Imagery Training
Participants undergo Virtual Reality Motor Imagery (VRMI) training using Oculus Quest 2 headsets. The intervention includes four stages: progressive muscle relaxation, 3D demonstration of shooting movements, guided motor imagery exercises, and physical rehearsal of shooting techniques. Sessions are 25 minutes per session, three times per week, for 12 weeks. This immersive intervention is designed to enhance shooting performance, executive function, visual attention, and prefrontal cortex activation, distinguishing it from traditional exercise and control interventions.
Experimental: Traditional Exercise Training
Participants receive traditional exercise training, including progressive muscle relaxation, 2D video demonstration, guided motor imagery, and physical practice. Sessions are 25 minutes long, 3 times per week, for 12 weeks. This arm is designed to improve shooting performance, executive function, and visual attention, but without immersive VR.
Behavioral: Traditional Exercise Training
Participants perform traditional exercise training that includes progressive muscle relaxation, 2D video demonstration of shooting movements, guided motor imagery exercises, and physical rehearsal of shooting techniques. Sessions last 25 minutes per session, three times per week, for 12 weeks. This intervention provides both physical and cognitive practice without immersive VR, aiming to improve shooting performance and executive function, while differing from the VRMI intervention in modality and immersive experience.
Experimental: Control Group - Health Education Videos
Participants watch educational videos about nutrition and healthy lifestyle. Sessions are 25 minutes long, 3 times per week, for 12 weeks. No physical training is included. This arm serves as a control to distinguish the effects of the experimental interventions.
Behavioral: Health Education Videos
Participants watch educational videos on nutrition and healthy lifestyle. Sessions last 25 minutes per session, three times per week, for 12 weeks. No motor imagery or physical shooting training is included. This control intervention is designed to match contact time with other groups while isolating the effects of VRMI and traditional exercise interventions.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change from Baseline in Mean Shooting Score in a 10-Meter Air Pistol VR Competition
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Mean shooting score measured in a virtual reality 10-meter air pistol competition. Scores are based on 24 shots per session, with each shot scored from 0 to 10.9 points. The mean shooting score ranges from 0 to 10.9, with higher scores indicating better shooting performance. Change from baseline to 12 weeks will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Shooting Performance Score in 10-Meter Air Pistol Competition
Time Frame: Measured at baseline and after 12-week intervention period.
The mean shooting score measured in a virtual reality 10-meter air pistol competition. Scores are based on 24 shots per session, with a maximum score of 10.9 per shot. The outcome evaluates the effect of VRMI training, traditional exercise, and control conditions on athletes' precision and consistency.
Measured at baseline and after 12-week intervention period.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Xiaodong Cheng

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

October 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 1, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 7, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

April 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 7, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2020A126

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data (IPD) from this study will not be shared due to privacy considerations and the absence of a formal data-sharing agreement. The study involves detailed personal health and performance data of a limited number of participants, and sharing could risk identification of individuals.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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