Athletes, Neuro-Psychophysiological Responses in Athletes, Sports Performance, Visual-Motor Processing
Conditions
Keywords
Stroboscopic Training, Dual-Task Performance, Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, Electrodermal Activity, Eye Tracking, Athlete Experience Level
Brief summary
This study aims to investigate the effects of an 8-week volleyball-specific stroboscopic training program on neuro-psychophysiological outcomes in female volleyball players with different levels of competitive experience. Participants will be categorized as novice, intermediate, or elite athletes and randomly assigned to either a stroboscopic training group or a control group. Both groups will continue their regular volleyball training, while only the intervention group will perform additional volleyball-specific drills using stroboscopic glasses. Neuro-psychophysiological assessments, including heart rate variability, electrodermal activity, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, dual-task performance, and eye-tracking measures, will be conducted before and after the training period. The study aims to determine whether stroboscopic training induces differential adaptations across experience levels and contributes to improved neuro-psychophysiological regulation associated with sport performance.
Detailed description
This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of volleyball-specific stroboscopic training on neuro-psychophysiological outcomes in athletes with different levels of competitive experience. Female volleyball players aged 10-16 years will be classified into three experience-based groups (novice, intermediate, and elite) according to their training history. Within each experience level, participants will be randomly assigned to either a stroboscopic training group or a control group, resulting in six study groups in total. All participants will continue their routine volleyball training throughout the study period. In addition, athletes in the intervention group will complete an 8-week volleyball-specific stroboscopic training program, performed three times per week for a total of 24 sessions. Each training session will last approximately 35 minutes and will consist of volleyball-related drills, including passing, setting, receiving, rotation-based movements, and reaction-based tasks. Participants in the stroboscopic training group will perform these drills while wearing stroboscopic glasses with progressively adjusted visual disruption parameters, whereas the control group will perform the same drills under normal visual conditions. Neuro-psychophysiological assessments will be conducted before and after the training period. Primary and secondary outcome measures will include heart rate variability, electrodermal activity, functional near-infrared spectroscopy recordings of prefrontal cortical activity, dual-task performance under varying levels of cognitive-motor demand, and eye-tracking parameters such as pupil diameter and fixation behavior. Psychological measures will also be collected using validated self-report instruments. All measurements will be performed under standardized laboratory conditions. The study aims to determine whether stroboscopic training leads to differential neuro-psychophysiological adaptations across experience levels and whether such adaptations are associated with improved regulation of cognitive, physiological, and perceptual-motor processes relevant to volleyball performance.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALStroboscopic Volleyball Training
Participants will perform volleyball-specific training drills while wearing stroboscopic glasses that intermittently restrict visual input. The training will be conducted three times per week for 8 weeks, totaling 24 sessions. Each session will last approximately 35 minutes and will include volleyball-specific drills such as passing, setting, receiving, rotation-based movements, and reaction-based tasks. Visual disruption parameters of the stroboscopic glasses will be progressively adjusted throughout the intervention period.
BEHAVIORALConventional Volleyball Training (Control)
Participants will perform the same volleyball-specific training drills as the intervention group for 8 weeks under normal visual conditions, without the use of stroboscopic glasses. Training frequency, duration, and drill content will be matched to the intervention group.
Sponsors
Bozok University
The Scientific Research Project Fund of Yozgat Bozok University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Outcome assessors and data analysts will be blinded to group allocation during data processing and analysis. Participants and care providers cannot be blinded due to the nature of the stroboscopic training intervention.
Intervention model description
Participants will be stratified according to competitive experience level (novice, intermediate, and elite) and randomly assigned to either a stroboscopic training group or a control group using a parallel-group design. All participants will remain in their assigned study arm throughout the intervention period.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
10 Years to 16 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Female volleyball players aged 10 to 16 years * Actively competing in organized volleyball * Regular participation in team training sessions * Classified as novice, intermediate, or elite based on training experience * Written parental/legal guardian informed consent and participant assent obtained
Exclusion criteria
* Presence of any chronic medical condition affecting study outcomes * Use of supplements or medications that may influence performance * Current injury or participation in a rehabilitation program * Failure to attend scheduled training sessions * Inability to complete baseline or post-intervention assessments * Injury occurring during the study period that prevents continued participation
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Prefrontal Cortical Activation (fNIRS) | Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 8-week intervention. | Change in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentrations in the prefrontal cortex measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy during dual-task performance |
| Heart Rate Variability (HRV) | Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 8-week intervention. | Change in heart rate variability indices reflecting autonomic nervous system regulation, assessed at rest using a photoplethysmography-based system. |
| Dual-Task Performance | Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 8-week intervention. | Change in reaction time and task performance under increasing levels of cognitive-motor demand assessed using a standardized dual-task protocol. |
| Electrodermal Activity (EDA) | Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 8-week intervention. | Change in skin conductance responses reflecting sympathetic nervous system activity recorded during task performance. |
| Eye-Tracking Measures | Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 8-week intervention. | Change in pupil diameter, fixation duration, and visual search behavior assessed using a wearable eye-tracking system during dual-task performance. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological Status (Depression, Anxiety, Stress) | Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 8-week intervention. | Change in self-reported depression, anxiety, and stress levels assessed using a validated questionnaire. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed