Effects of Caffeine on Chess Performance and Cognitive Function in Professional Chess Players (GRANDMASTER)
8. června 2026 aktualizováno: Hossein Rafiei, St. Louis University
GRANDMASTER: Gauging the Role of Alertness and Neurostimulation With Dietary Caffeine in Master-Level Chess; A Double-Blind Randomized Crossover Trial
This study will examine whether caffeine improves cognitive and competitive performance in professional chess players during tournament-style games.
In a randomized double-blind crossover design, participants will complete two experimental sessions in which they consume either caffeinated coffee or decaffeinated coffee before playing a standardized chess match.
Cognitive performance will be assessed using attention and reaction-time tests, including the Stroop Test, Trail Making Test, and Puzzle Rush task.
Chess performance outcomes such as move accuracy, time management, and error rates will also be evaluated.
The study aims to determine whether moderate caffeine intake enhances focus, alertness, and decision-making during prolonged competitive chess play.
Přehled studie
Postavení
Zatím nenabíráme
Podmínky
Intervence / Léčba
Detailní popis
This randomized double-blind crossover trial will evaluate the effects of moderate caffeine intake on cognitive and competitive performance in professional chess players. Twelve FIDE-rated chess players will complete two experimental conditions in randomized order: caffeinated coffee and decaffeinated coffee placebo. During each visit, participants will complete standardized cognitive assessments and a tournament-style chess game under controlled laboratory conditions.
Primary outcomes will include objective chess performance metrics derived from chess engine analysis, including move accuracy, centipawn loss, error rates, and time management. Secondary outcomes will include cognitive test performance, tactical reaction time, and self-reported alertness and fatigue. Chess games will be analyzed using standardized software-based evaluation methods.
The crossover design allows each participant to serve as their own control, minimizing variability related to individual differences in skill level, caffeine tolerance, and playing style. The study aims to determine whether caffeine enhances sustained attention, decision-making, and competitive chess performance during prolonged gameplay. Findings may provide insight into nutritional strategies for cognitive performance optimization in mentally demanding competitive environments.
Typ studie
Intervenční
Zápis (Odhadovaný)
12
Fáze
- Nelze použít
Kontakty a umístění
Tato část poskytuje kontaktní údaje pro ty, kteří studii provádějí, a informace o tom, kde se tato studie provádí.
Studijní kontakt
- Jméno: Hossein Rafiei, PhD
- Telefonní číslo: 13149778675
- E-mail: hossein.rafiei@health.slu.edu
Studijní místa
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Missouri
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St Louis, Missouri, Spojené státy, 63104
- Saint Louis University
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Kontakt:
- Hossein Rafiei, PhD
- Telefonní číslo: 1314-977-8675
- E-mail: hossein.rafiei@health.slu.edu
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Vrchní vyšetřovatel:
- Hossein Rafiei, PhD
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Kritéria účasti
Výzkumníci hledají lidi, kteří odpovídají určitému popisu, kterému se říká kritéria způsobilosti. Některé příklady těchto kritérií jsou celkový zdravotní stav osoby nebo předchozí léčba.
Kritéria způsobilosti
Věk způsobilý ke studiu
- Dospělý
Přijímá zdravé dobrovolníky
Ano
Popis
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male and female professional chess players aged 18-50 years
- Current Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) standard rating between 2300 and 2600 Elo, or achievement of a standard FIDE rating within this range during the previous 12 months
- Habitual caffeine consumers consuming ≤2 cups of coffee per day
- Willingness to comply with all study procedures and study visits
- Ability to provide written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Non-caffeine users
- Habitual caffeine intake exceeding 2 cups of coffee per day
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Metabolic disorders
- Psychiatric disorders
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Current smoking
- Shift workers
- Use of psychoactive medications
- Participation in another clinical trial within the previous 3 months
- Known allergy or intolerance to milk proteins, dairy products, or soy
- Known red-green color blindness or other color vision deficiencies that may interfere with Stroop Test performance
Studijní plán
Tato část poskytuje podrobnosti o studijním plánu, včetně toho, jak je studie navržena a co studie měří.
Jak je studie koncipována?
Detaily designu
- Primární účel: Základní věda
- Přidělení: Randomizované
- Intervenční model: Crossover Assignment
- Maskování: Trojnásobný
Zbraně a zásahy
Skupina účastníků / Arm |
Intervence / Léčba |
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Aktivní komparátor: Caffeinated Coffee
Participants will consume one serving of black caffeinated coffee prepared from 15 g of ground coffee brewed in 200 g of water, providing approximately 100 mg of caffeine.
The beverage will be consumed approximately 30 minutes before completion of cognitive testing and a standardized tournament-style chess game during the experimental visit.
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Black caffeinated coffee prepared from 15 g of ground coffee brewed in 200 g of water, providing approximately 100 mg of caffeine.
The beverage will be consumed approximately 30 minutes before cognitive testing and tournament-style chess gameplay.
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Komparátor placeba: Decaffeinated Coffee Placebo
Participants will consume one serving of black decaffeinated coffee prepared to match the caffeinated coffee in taste and appearance.
The beverage will be consumed approximately 30 minutes before completion of cognitive testing and a standardized tournament-style chess game during the experimental visit.
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Black decaffeinated coffee prepared from the same batch of coffee beans and matched for taste and appearance to the caffeinated condition.
The beverage will be consumed approximately 30 minutes before cognitive testing and tournament-style chess gameplay.
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Co je měření studie?
Primární výstupní opatření
Měření výsledku |
Popis opatření |
Časové okno |
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Chess Performance Accuracy
Časové okno: 30 minutes after beverage consumption through completion of the tournament-style chess game at each experimental visit.
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Chess performance accuracy will be assessed using engine-based analysis of tournament-style chess games.
The primary reported metric will be average centipawn loss per move, with lower values indicating better chess performance accuracy.
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30 minutes after beverage consumption through completion of the tournament-style chess game at each experimental visit.
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Sekundární výstupní opatření
Měření výsledku |
Popis opatření |
Časové okno |
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Puzzle Rush Correct Responses
Časové okno: Approximately 30 minutes after beverage consumption at each experimental visit.
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Tactical accuracy will be assessed using the 3-minute Puzzle Rush task on Chess.com.
The outcome will be the total number of correctly solved tactical puzzles, with higher scores indicating better tactical accuracy.
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Approximately 30 minutes after beverage consumption at each experimental visit.
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Puzzle Rush Response Speed
Časové okno: Approximately 30 minutes after beverage consumption at each experimental visit.
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Response speed will be assessed using the 3-minute Puzzle Rush task on Chess.com.
The outcome will be average response time per puzzle, with lower values indicating faster response speed.
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Approximately 30 minutes after beverage consumption at each experimental visit.
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Stroop Test Performance
Časové okno: Before gameplay and immediately after gameplay at each experimental visit.
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Selective attention will be assessed using the Stroop Test.
The outcome will be the change in Stroop Test completion time from before gameplay to immediately after gameplay, with lower completion time indicating better performance.
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Before gameplay and immediately after gameplay at each experimental visit.
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Trail Making Test Performance
Časové okno: Before gameplay and immediately after gameplay at each experimental visit.
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Cognitive flexibility and processing speed will be assessed using the Trail Making Test.
The outcome will be the change in Trail Making Test completion time from before gameplay to immediately after gameplay, with lower completion time indicating better performance.
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Before gameplay and immediately after gameplay at each experimental visit.
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Self-Reported Alertness
Časové okno: Pre-game and immediately post-game at each experimental visit.
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Self-reported alertness will be assessed using a study-specific visual analog questionnaire.
Higher scores will indicate greater perceived alertness.
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Pre-game and immediately post-game at each experimental visit.
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Self-Reported Mental Fatigue
Časové okno: Pre-game and immediately post-game at each experimental visit.
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Self-reported mental fatigue will be assessed using a study-specific visual analog questionnaire.
Higher scores will indicate greater perceived mental fatigue.
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Pre-game and immediately post-game at each experimental visit.
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Average Time Per Move
Časové okno: From the start of the tournament-style chess game until game completion, assessed over approximately 3 to 4 hours at each experimental visit.
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Chess time management will be assessed as the average time used per move during each tournament-style chess game.
This value will be calculated from the total game time divided by the number of moves completed by the participant.
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From the start of the tournament-style chess game until game completion, assessed over approximately 3 to 4 hours at each experimental visit.
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Spolupracovníci a vyšetřovatelé
Zde najdete lidi a organizace zapojené do této studie.
Sponzor
Vyšetřovatelé
- Vrchní vyšetřovatel: Hossein Rafiei, PhD, St. Louis University
Termíny studijních záznamů
Tato data sledují průběh záznamů studie a předkládání souhrnných výsledků na ClinicalTrials.gov. Záznamy ze studií a hlášené výsledky jsou před zveřejněním na veřejné webové stránce přezkoumány Národní lékařskou knihovnou (NLM), aby se ujistily, že splňují specifické standardy kontroly kvality.
Hlavní termíny studia
Začátek studia (Odhadovaný)
15. června 2026
Primární dokončení (Odhadovaný)
1. června 2027
Dokončení studie (Odhadovaný)
1. srpna 2027
Termíny zápisu do studia
První předloženo
24. května 2026
První předloženo, které splnilo kritéria kontroly kvality
8. června 2026
První zveřejněno (Aktuální)
11. června 2026
Aktualizace studijních záznamů
Poslední zveřejněná aktualizace (Aktuální)
11. června 2026
Odeslaná poslední aktualizace, která splnila kritéria kontroly kvality
8. června 2026
Naposledy ověřeno
1. června 2026
Více informací
Termíny související s touto studií
Klíčová slova
Další relevantní podmínky MeSH
Další identifikační čísla studie
- SLU-CHESS-CAFF-2026
Plán pro data jednotlivých účastníků (IPD)
Plánujete sdílet data jednotlivých účastníků (IPD)?
NE
Popis plánu IPD
Individual participant data (IPD) will not be publicly shared because this is a small pilot study involving highly specialized professional chess players, and there is potential risk of participant identification despite de-identification procedures.
Informace o lécích a zařízeních, studijní dokumenty
Studuje lékový produkt regulovaný americkým FDA
Ne
Studuje produkt zařízení regulovaný americkým úřadem FDA
Ne
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