Visual Training Effects in Esports Players

The Effect of Web-Based Visual Training on Balance, Reaction Time, and Cognitive Function in Professional Esports Players

This randomized controlled study aims to investigate the acute effects of a single session of web-based visual training on balance, reaction time, and cognitive function in professional e-sports players. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a web-based visual training group or a control group. The intervention group will receive a single approximately 25-minute session including eye relaxation, eye movement exercises, convergence-divergence, accommodation, figure-ground perception, and visual attention exercises. The control group will receive no intervention. Balance, reaction time, and cognitive function will be assessed at baseline and immediately after the intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cognitive Function; Reaction Time; Balance; E-sports Performance
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Web-Based Visual Training

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Bigadiç
    • Balıkesir, Bigadiç, Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Balikesir University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged between 12 and 30 years
• Living in Balıkesir, Türkiye
• Professional e-sports player
• At least 2 years of regular e-sports training and/or participation in competitions Willing to participate and provide informed consent (parental consent required for participants under 18 years)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of attention deficit disorder
• Presence of vestibular disorders affecting balance
• History of lower extremity injury within the last 6 months

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control group
Experimental: Single-Session Web-Based Visual Training	Behavioral: Web-Based Visual Training; Participants received a single session of web-based visual training lasting approximately 25 minutes. The session included eye relaxation, eye movement exercises, convergence-divergence, accommodation, figure-ground perception, and visual attention exercises.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Reaction Time	Reaction time will be measured using an LED-based system. The average reaction time (ms) and the number of correct responses will be recorded.	Baseline and immediately post-intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Balance	Balance will be assessed using the One-Leg Balance Test. The duration of maintaining single-leg stance will be recorded.	Baseline and immediately post-intervention
Cognitive Function	Cognitive function will be assessed through selective attention performance during the LED-based reaction task. The number of correct responses will be recorded.	Baseline and immediately post-intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Balikesir University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Zhang, W., Wang, X., Li, X., et al. (2023). Effects of acute moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on cognitive function in e-athletes: A randomized controlled trial. Medicine, 102(40), e35108. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000035108
• Ünver, F., Özkan, F., & Ülkar, B. (2005). Ön çapraz bağ tamiri yapılan kişilerde postüral kontrolün incelenmesi. Fizyoterapi Rehabilitasyon, 16(1), 17-24.
• Sainz, I., Collado-Mateo, D., & Del Coso, J. (2020). Effect of acute caffeine intake on hit accuracy and reaction time in professional e-sports players. Physiology & Behavior, 224, 113031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113031
• Rossoni, A., Vecchiato, M., Brugin, E., et al. (2023). The esports medicine: Pre-participation screening and injuries management-An update. Sports, 11(2), 34. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11020034
• Pappas, C., Turner, T., Wulf, G., & Ketcham, C. J. (2019). Reaction time and cognitive control mechanisms among esports athletes: Evidence for a training advantage. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 41, 157-162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.12.008
• Nagorsky, E., & Wiemeyer, J. (2020). The structure of performance and training in esports. PLoS One, 15(8), e0237584. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237584
• Lachowicz, M., Żurek, A., Jamro, D., Serweta-Pawlik, A., & Żurek, G. (2024). Changes in concentration performance and alternating attention after short-term virtual reality training in e-athletes: A pilot study. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 8904. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58904-6
• Khanal, S. (2015). Impact of visual skills training on sports performance: Current and future perspectives. Advances in Ophthalmology and Visual System, 2(1), 32.
• Karrer, T. M., McDonnell, J. V., & Bavelier, D. (2020). Action video gaming and its impact on cognition: A systematic review. Psychological Bulletin, 146(2), 128-159. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000220
• Jeon, S., Kim, Y., & Park, H. (2022). Perceptual-motor abilities of professional esports gamers and amateurs. Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports, 1(1), 49-61.
• Janković, D., Čvorović, A., Dopsaj, M., Prćić, I., & Kukić, F. (2022). Effects of the task complexity on the single movement response time of upper and lower limbs in police officers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(14), 8695. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148695
• Franks, R. R., King, D., Bodine, W., Chisari, E., Heller, A., Jamal, F. IV, Luksch, J., Quinn, K., Singh, R., & Solomon, M. (2022). AOASM position statement on esports, active video gaming, and the role of the sports medicine physician. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 32, e221-e229. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0000000000000991
• Bavelier, D., & Green, C. S. (2019). Enhancing attention and cognitive control in video game players. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 23(4), 269-282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2019.01.009
• Barnett, A. (2018). Vision skills that boost esports performance. Vizual Edge.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 29, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): April 28, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 30, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 6, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 2026/48

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

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