Vestibulo-Ocular ReflexNCT07211191
Comparison of Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex and Cognitive Functions in E-Athletes and Non-Athletes
An observational study of Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex and Esports Participation, run by Yusa Basoglu at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aims to compare cognitive functions and functional vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) between e-athletes and non-athletes. Participants aged 17-27 years will complete the Stroop Test, Corsi Block-Tapping Test, and Functional Head Impulse Test (F-HIT) during a single baseline session. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 17 to 27 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex, Esports Participation, Cognitive Functioning
- How many people
- 36 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 27 May 2021to 23 Sep 2021
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 17 to 27 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Study population: Healthy young adults (17-27 years), including 18 esports athletes and 18 age-matched non-athlete controls, recruited from a university esports center and surrounding community.
Who may be able to join
- Age between 17 and 27 years
- Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score within normal limits
- No neurological or psychiatric disorder
- No neck movement restriction
- Ability to adapt to cognitive and vestibular tests
- For e-athlete group: ≥4 years of esports experience and ≥20 hours per week of training
- For control group: No prior competitive esports or organized sports training
Who cannot join
- Hearing loss or tinnitus affecting functional performance
- History of dizziness within the last 3 months
- Active or diagnosed migraine with vestibular involvement
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- History of head trauma
- Systemic or neurological diseases affecting cognitive or vestibular function
- Visual impairments not corrected with glasses or lenses
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Istanbul Medipol University
Istanbul, BEYKOZ, 34810
About this study
Official title: Comparison of Functional Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex and Cognitive Functions in E-Athletes and Non-Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Case-Control Study
This study aims to compare cognitive functions and functional vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) between e-athletes and non-athletes. Participants aged 17-27 years will complete the Stroop Test, Corsi Block-Tapping Test, and Functional Head Impulse Test (F-HIT) during a single baseline session. Cognitive measures will include attention, response inhibition, and visuospatial memory, while F-HIT will assess dynamic gaze stability. The study uses a cross-sectional design to explore potential differences between groups. Findings are expected to provide preliminary evidence on whether competitive gaming is associated with cognitive advantages or vestibular adaptations.
Read the detailed description
Esports requires rapid visuomotor coordination, attentional control, and working memory. While traditional sports have been extensively studied in relation to cognitive and vestibular performance, limited evidence exists regarding esports. Some studies suggest that video gaming may improve executive function, visuospatial memory, and processing speed, whereas others have reported impairments in response inhibition. In addition, the potential effects of esports on vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) function, which is essential for gaze stability during head movements, remain largely unexplored.
This cross-sectional study is designed to compare cognitive and vestibular performance between esports athletes and non-athlete controls. Participants include young adults with and without at least four years of competitive gaming experience. Cognitive abilities are assessed with the Stroop Test, which measures selective attention, inhibition, and processing speed, and the Corsi Block-Tapping Test, which evaluates visuospatial short-term and working memory. Vestibular performance is assessed with the Functional Head Impulse Test (F-HIT), which measures dynamic visual accuracy during passive head impulses in horizontal and vertical planes.
The primary outcome is Stroop Test Part V completion time under interference conditions. Secondary outcomes include Stroop errors and corrections, forward and backward Corsi spans, and F-HIT percent correct answers. By integrating cognitive and vestibular assessments, this study aims to provide preliminary evidence on whether intensive esports participation is associated with cognitive advantages, vestibular adaptations, or both. The findings may contribute to a better understanding of the health and performance characteristics of esports athletes and guide the development of evidence-based training strategies.
- Keywords
- Esports, E-Athletes, Stroop Test, Corsi Block-Tapping Test, Functional Head Impulse Test (F-HIT), Dynamic Visual Acuity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| E-Athletes | Healthy volunteers aged 17-27 years with at least 4 years of competitive esports experience and a minimum of 20 hours per week of training. All had normal or corrected-to-normal vision, normal Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, and no neurological or psychiatric disorders or neck movement limitations. Participants were adaptable to cognitive and vestibular testing. | |
| Non-Athlete Controls | Healthy volunteers aged 17-27 years with no prior competitive esports or organized sports training. All had normal or corrected-to-normal vision, normal Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, and no neurological or psychiatric disorders or neck movement limitations. Participants were adaptable to cognitive and vestibular testing. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Stroop Test Part V Completion Time (seconds)
Completion time on Stroop Part V and errors on Part IV/V, indexing selective attention and inhibition. Participants are shown color-word stimuli and must name ink colors as quickly and accurately as possible.
Measured: Day 1 (Baseline, during a single test session)
Secondary outcomes (5)
Stroop Test Part IV Errors (number of incorrect responses)
Number of errors on Stroop Part IV, reflecting selective attention and inhibitory control. Participants are asked to state the ink color of incongruent color-word stimuli. Fewer errors indicate better performance.
Measured: Day 1 (Baseline, during a single test session).
Stroop Test Part IV Corrections (number of corrected errors)
Description: Number of self-corrections in Stroop Part IV, reflecting cognitive control. Participants can correct verbal mistakes during the task; higher correction counts indicate reduced automatic inhibition.
Measured: Day 1 (Baseline, during a single test session).
Corsi Block-Tapping Test - Forward Span (maximum sequence length)
Short-term visuospatial memory capacity. Participants are shown sequences of blocks tapped by the examiner and must reproduce the same order. Higher span indicates better memory.
Measured: Day 1 (Baseline, during a single test session).
Corsi Block-Tapping Test - Backward Span (maximum sequence length)
Visuospatial working memory capacity. Participants are shown sequences of blocks tapped by the examiner and must reproduce them in reverse order. Higher span indicates better working memory.
Measured: Day 1 (Baseline, during a single test session).
Functional Head Impulse Test (F-HIT) Percent Correct Answers (%CA)
Accuracy in identifying optotypes presented during rapid passive head impulses in horizontal, RALP, and LARP planes (3,000-6,000°/s²). Higher %CA indicates better functional vestibulo-ocular reflex.
Measured: Day 1 (Baseline, during a single test session).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Oct 2025
- Study start27 May 2021
- Primary completion6 Jun 2021
- Study completion23 Sep 2021
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Vestibulo-Ocular ReflexStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Yusa Basoglu
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Istanbul Medipol University Hospital
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Yusa Basoglu, Medipol University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07211191
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IMU-EC-855-2021
- Other IDs
- Istanbul Medipol University
- Status last verified
- Sep 2025
- First submitted
- 22 Sep 2025
- Last updated
- 7 Oct 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: he datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Publications
Olcek G, Basoglu Y, Basoglu I, Tomac S. Comparison of functional vestibulo-ocular reflex and cognitive functions in e-athletes and non-athletes. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2026 Jan 27;18(1):98. doi: 10.1186/s13102-026-01546-7.
PubMed 41593662
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Oct 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of Functional Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex and Cognitive Functions in E-Athletes and Non-Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Case-Control Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07211191
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IMU-EC-855-2021
- Keywords
- Esports, E-Athletes, Stroop Test, Corsi Block-Tapping Test, Functional Head Impulse Test (F-HIT), Dynamic Visual Acuity
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Yusa BasogluUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Istanbul Medipol University Hospital
- Study start
- 27 May 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 6 Jun 2021 (actual)
- Study completion
- 23 Sep 2021 (actual)
- First posted
- 7 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to compare cognitive functions and functional vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) between e-athletes and non-athletes. Participants aged 17-27 years will complete the Stroop Test, Corsi Block-Tapping Test, and Functional Head Impulse Test (F-HIT) during a single baseline session. Cognitive measures will include attention, response inhibition, and visuospatial memory, while F-HIT will assess dynamic gaze stability. The study uses a cross-sectional design to explore potential differences between groups. Findings are expected to provide preliminary evidence on whether competitive gaming is associated with cognitive advantages or vestibular adaptations.
Detailed description
Esports requires rapid visuomotor coordination, attentional control, and working memory. While traditional sports have been extensively studied in relation to cognitive and vestibular performance, limited evidence exists regarding esports. Some studies suggest that video gaming may improve executive function, visuospatial memory, and processing speed, whereas others have reported impairments in response inhibition. In addition, the potential effects of esports on vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) function, which is essential for gaze stability during head movements, remain largely unexplored.
This cross-sectional study is designed to compare cognitive and vestibular performance between esports athletes and non-athlete controls. Participants include young adults with and without at least four years of competitive gaming experience. Cognitive abilities are assessed with the Stroop Test, which measures selective attention, inhibition, and processing speed, and the Corsi Block-Tapping Test, which evaluates visuospatial short-term and working memory. Vestibular performance is assessed with the Functional Head Impulse Test (F-HIT), which measures dynamic visual accuracy during passive head impulses in horizontal and vertical planes.
The primary outcome is Stroop Test Part V completion time under interference conditions. Secondary outcomes include Stroop errors and corrections, forward and backward Corsi spans, and F-HIT percent correct answers. By integrating cognitive and vestibular assessments, this study aims to provide preliminary evidence on whether intensive esports participation is associated with cognitive advantages, vestibular adaptations, or both. The findings may contribute to a better understanding of the health and performance characteristics of esports athletes and guide the development of evidence-based training strategies.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| E-Athletes | – | –Healthy volunteers aged 17-27 years with at least 4 years of competitive esports experience and a minimum of 20 hours per week of training. All had normal or corrected-to-normal vision, normal Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, and no neurological or psychiatric disorders or neck movement limitations. Participants were adaptable to cognitive and vestibular testing. |
| Non-Athlete Controls | – | –Healthy volunteers aged 17-27 years with no prior competitive esports or organized sports training. All had normal or corrected-to-normal vision, normal Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, and no neurological or psychiatric disorders or neck movement limitations. Participants were adaptable to cognitive and vestibular testing. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 17 to 27 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
- Study population
- Healthy young adults (17-27 years), including 18 esports athletes and 18 age-matched non-athlete controls, recruited from a university esports center and surrounding community.
Key inclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Age between 17 and 27 years
- Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score within normal limits
- No neurological or psychiatric disorder
- No neck movement restriction
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Hearing loss or tinnitus affecting functional performance
- History of dizziness within the last 3 months
- Active or diagnosed migraine with vestibular involvement
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- History of head trauma
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Stroop Test Part V Completion Time (seconds)
Time frame: Day 1 (Baseline, during a single test session)
Completion time on Stroop Part V and errors on Part IV/V, indexing selective attention and inhibition. Participants are shown color-word stimuli and must name ink colors as quickly and accurately as possible.
5 secondary outcomes
Stroop Test Part IV Errors (number of incorrect responses)
Time frame: Day 1 (Baseline, during a single test session).
Stroop Test Part IV Corrections (number of corrected errors)
Time frame: Day 1 (Baseline, during a single test session).
Corsi Block-Tapping Test - Forward Span (maximum sequence length)
Time frame: Day 1 (Baseline, during a single test session).
Corsi Block-Tapping Test - Backward Span (maximum sequence length)
Time frame: Day 1 (Baseline, during a single test session).
Functional Head Impulse Test (F-HIT) Percent Correct Answers (%CA)
Time frame: Day 1 (Baseline, during a single test session).
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 Oct 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41593662Olcek G, Basoglu Y, Basoglu I, Tomac S. Comparison of functional vestibulo-ocular reflex and cognitive functions in e-athletes and non-athletes. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2026 Jan 27;18(1):98. doi: 10.1186/s13102-026-01546-7.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. he datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex and Esports Participation, run by Yusa Basoglu at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Oct 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Stroop Test Part V Completion Time (seconds) (time frame: Day 1 (Baseline, during a single test session)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07211191, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Oct 2025.