Effects of Caffeine on Chess Performance and Cognitive Function in Professional Chess Players (GRANDMASTER)
8 giugno 2026 aggiornato da: 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.
Panoramica dello studio
Stato
Non ancora reclutamento
Condizioni
Intervento / Trattamento
Descrizione dettagliata
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.
Tipo di studio
Interventistico
Iscrizione (Stimato)
12
Fase
- Non applicabile
Contatti e Sedi
Questa sezione fornisce i recapiti di coloro che conducono lo studio e informazioni su dove viene condotto lo studio.
Contatto studio
- Nome: Hossein Rafiei, PhD
- Numero di telefono: 13149778675
- Email: hossein.rafiei@health.slu.edu
Luoghi di studio
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Missouri
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St Louis, Missouri, Stati Uniti, 63104
- Saint Louis University
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Contatto:
- Hossein Rafiei, PhD
- Numero di telefono: 1314-977-8675
- Email: hossein.rafiei@health.slu.edu
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Investigatore principale:
- Hossein Rafiei, PhD
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Criteri di partecipazione
I ricercatori cercano persone che corrispondano a una certa descrizione, chiamata criteri di ammissibilità. Alcuni esempi di questi criteri sono le condizioni generali di salute di una persona o trattamenti precedenti.
Criteri di ammissibilità
Età idonea allo studio
- Adulto
Accetta volontari sani
Sì
Descrizione
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
Piano di studio
Questa sezione fornisce i dettagli del piano di studio, compreso il modo in cui lo studio è progettato e ciò che lo studio sta misurando.
Come è strutturato lo studio?
Dettagli di progettazione
- Scopo principale: Scienza basilare
- Assegnazione: Randomizzato
- Modello interventistico: Assegnazione incrociata
- Mascheramento: Triplicare
Armi e interventi
Gruppo di partecipanti / Arm |
Intervento / Trattamento |
|---|---|
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Comparatore attivo: 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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Comparatore placebo: 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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Cosa sta misurando lo studio?
Misure di risultato primarie
Misura del risultato |
Misura Descrizione |
Lasso di tempo |
|---|---|---|
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Chess Performance Accuracy
Lasso di tempo: 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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Misure di risultato secondarie
Misura del risultato |
Misura Descrizione |
Lasso di tempo |
|---|---|---|
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Puzzle Rush Correct Responses
Lasso di tempo: 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
Lasso di tempo: 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
Lasso di tempo: 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
Lasso di tempo: 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
Lasso di tempo: 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
Lasso di tempo: 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
Lasso di tempo: 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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Collaboratori e investigatori
Qui è dove troverai le persone e le organizzazioni coinvolte in questo studio.
Sponsor
Investigatori
- Investigatore principale: Hossein Rafiei, PhD, St. Louis University
Studiare le date dei record
Queste date tengono traccia dell'avanzamento della registrazione dello studio e dell'invio dei risultati di sintesi a ClinicalTrials.gov. I record degli studi e i risultati riportati vengono esaminati dalla National Library of Medicine (NLM) per assicurarsi che soddisfino specifici standard di controllo della qualità prima di essere pubblicati sul sito Web pubblico.
Studia le date principali
Inizio studio (Stimato)
15 giugno 2026
Completamento primario (Stimato)
1 giugno 2027
Completamento dello studio (Stimato)
1 agosto 2027
Date di iscrizione allo studio
Primo inviato
24 maggio 2026
Primo inviato che soddisfa i criteri di controllo qualità
8 giugno 2026
Primo Inserito (Effettivo)
11 giugno 2026
Aggiornamenti dei record di studio
Ultimo aggiornamento pubblicato (Effettivo)
11 giugno 2026
Ultimo aggiornamento inviato che soddisfa i criteri QC
8 giugno 2026
Ultimo verificato
1 giugno 2026
Maggiori informazioni
Termini relativi a questo studio
Parole chiave
Termini MeSH pertinenti aggiuntivi
Altri numeri di identificazione dello studio
- SLU-CHESS-CAFF-2026
Piano per i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)
Hai intenzione di condividere i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)?
NO
Descrizione del piano 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.
Informazioni su farmaci e dispositivi, documenti di studio
Studia un prodotto farmaceutico regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti
No
Studia un dispositivo regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti
No
Queste informazioni sono state recuperate direttamente dal sito web clinicaltrials.gov senza alcuna modifica. In caso di richieste di modifica, rimozione o aggiornamento dei dettagli dello studio, contattare register@clinicaltrials.gov. Non appena verrà implementata una modifica su clinicaltrials.gov, questa verrà aggiornata automaticamente anche sul nostro sito web .