AthletesNEPSY-SPORTNCT07392385
Neuro-Psychophysiological Characteristics of Athletes With Varying Levels of Experience
A study testing Stroboscopic Volleyball Training in people with Athletes and Sports Performance, run by Bozok University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 10 to 16 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Athletes, Sports Performance, Visual-Motor Processing
- What is being tested?
- Stroboscopic Volleyball Training
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 42 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 3 Mar 2025to 21 Jun 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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 10 to 16 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- 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
Who cannot join
- 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
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Yozgat Bozok University Faculty of Sport Sciences
Yozgat, Merkez, 66100
About this study
Official title: Effects of Volleyball-Specific Stroboscopic Training on Neuro-Psychophysiological Responses Across Different Experience Levels: A Randomized Controlled Trial
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.
Read the 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.
- Conditions
- Athletes, Sports Performance, Visual-Motor Processing, Neuro-Psychophysiological Responses in Athletes
- Being tested
- Stroboscopic Volleyball Training, Conventional Volleyball Training (Control)
- Keywords
- Stroboscopic Training, Dual-Task Performance, Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, Electrodermal Activity, Eye Tracking, Athlete Experience Level
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Stroboscopic Volleyball TrainingBehavioural
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.
Conventional Volleyball Training (Control)Behavioural
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.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Stroboscopic Training Group | Active comparator | Participants will continue their regular volleyball training and perform the same volleyball-specific drills as the intervention group for 8 weeks. All exercises will be completed under normal visual conditions without the use of stroboscopic glasses. Receives: Behavioral: Stroboscopic Volleyball Training |
| Control Group | Active comparator | Participants will continue their regular volleyball training and perform the same volleyball-specific drills as the intervention group for 8 weeks. All exercises will be completed under normal visual conditions without the use of stroboscopic glasses. Receives: Behavioral: Conventional Volleyball Training (Control) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Prefrontal Cortical Activation (fNIRS)
Change in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentrations in the prefrontal cortex measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy during dual-task performance
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 8-week intervention.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
Change in heart rate variability indices reflecting autonomic nervous system regulation, assessed at rest using a photoplethysmography-based system.
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 8-week intervention.
Dual-Task Performance
Change in reaction time and task performance under increasing levels of cognitive-motor demand assessed using a standardized dual-task protocol.
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 8-week intervention.
Electrodermal Activity (EDA)
Change in skin conductance responses reflecting sympathetic nervous system activity recorded during task performance.
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 8-week intervention.
Eye-Tracking Measures
Change in pupil diameter, fixation duration, and visual search behavior assessed using a wearable eye-tracking system during dual-task performance.
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 8-week intervention.
Secondary outcomes (1)
Psychological Status (Depression, Anxiety, Stress)
Change in self-reported depression, anxiety, and stress levels assessed using a validated questionnaire.
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 8-week intervention.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Feb 2026
- Study start3 Mar 2025
- Primary completion14 Jun 2025
- Study completion21 Jun 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (6)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for AthletesStudies 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- 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.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Bozok University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Izzet Kirkaya, Bozok University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07392385
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Bozok-SBF-IK-2025
- Other IDs
- 124C195
- Acronym
- NEPSY-SPORT
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 30 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 6 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Derived data only will be shared. No direct identifiers or sensitive personal information will be included.
Publications
Zhong X, Dai Y, Xu M, Jiang C. Volleyball training improves working memory in children aged 7 to 12 years old: an fNIRS study. Cereb Cortex. 2024 Jul 3;34(7):bhae275. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhae275.
PubMed 39030744Zwierko M, Jedziniak W, Popowczak M, Rokita A. Effects of six-week stroboscopic training program on visuomotor reaction speed in goal-directed movements in young volleyball players: a study focusing on agility performance. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024 Feb 29;16(1):59. doi: 10.1186/s13102-024-00848-y.
PubMed 38424539Guo J, Zhao L, Liu G, Li H, Wu J. Stroboscopic training effects on athletic performance and cognitive function across populations, purposes, and skill types: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Sports Act Living. 2025 Dec 11;7:1705693. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2025.1705693. eCollection 2025.
PubMed 41458106Piva T, Zerbini V, Barducco A, Mancioppi S, Raisi A, Vassali M, Bianchini G, Laporta M, Menegatti E, Grazzi G, Mazzoni G, Mandini S. Reduction in reaction time and improved oculomotor function following football-specific vision training in young players. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Oct 16;17(1):298. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01368-z.
PubMed 41102801Bherer L, Kramer AF, Peterson MS, Colcombe S, Erickson K, Becic E. Transfer effects in task-set cost and dual-task cost after dual-task training in older and younger adults: further evidence for cognitive plasticity in attentional control in late adulthood. Exp Aging Res. 2008 Jul-Sep;34(3):188-219. doi: 10.1080/03610730802070068.
PubMed 18568979Beavan A, Hanke L, Spielmann J, Skorski S, Mayer J, Meyer T, Fransen J. The effect of stroboscopic vision on performance in a football specific assessment. Sci Med Footb. 2021 Nov;5(4):317-322. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2020.1862420. Epub 2020 Dec 20.
PubMed 35077302
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Volleyball-Specific Stroboscopic Training on Neuro-Psychophysiological Responses Across Different Experience Levels: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07392385
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- NEPSY-SPORT / Bozok-SBF-IK-2025
- Conditions
- Athletes, Sports Performance, Visual-Motor Processing, Neuro-Psychophysiological Responses in Athletes
- Keywords
- Stroboscopic Training, Dual-Task Performance, Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, Electrodermal Activity, Eye Tracking, Athlete Experience Level
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Bozok UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 3 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 14 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 21 Jun 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 6 Feb 2026 (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 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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- 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.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Stroboscopic Training Group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Stroboscopic Volleyball TrainingParticipants will continue their regular volleyball training and perform the same volleyball-specific drills as the intervention group for 8 weeks. All exercises will be completed under normal visual conditions without the use of stroboscopic glasses. |
| Control Group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Conventional Volleyball Training (Control)Participants will continue their regular volleyball training and perform the same volleyball-specific drills as the intervention group for 8 weeks. All exercises will be completed under normal visual conditions without the use of stroboscopic glasses. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 10 to 16 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- 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
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Stroboscopic Volleyball TrainingParticipants 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. | Behavioural | Stroboscopic Training Group |
| Conventional 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. | Behavioural | Control Group |
Primary outcome
Prefrontal Cortical Activation (fNIRS)
Time frame: 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)
Time frame: 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
Time frame: 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)
Time frame: 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
Time frame: 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.
1 secondary outcome
Psychological Status (Depression, Anxiety, Stress)
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 8-week intervention.
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 6 Feb 2026.
- Background: PubMed 39030744Zhong X, Dai Y, Xu M, Jiang C. Volleyball training improves working memory in children aged 7 to 12 years old: an fNIRS study. Cereb Cortex. 2024 Jul 3;34(7):bhae275. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhae275.
- Background: PubMed 38424539Zwierko M, Jedziniak W, Popowczak M, Rokita A. Effects of six-week stroboscopic training program on visuomotor reaction speed in goal-directed movements in young volleyball players: a study focusing on agility performance. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024 Feb 29;16(1):59. doi: 10.1186/s13102-024-00848-y.
- Background: PubMed 41458106Guo J, Zhao L, Liu G, Li H, Wu J. Stroboscopic training effects on athletic performance and cognitive function across populations, purposes, and skill types: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Sports Act Living. 2025 Dec 11;7:1705693. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2025.1705693. eCollection 2025.
- Background: PubMed 41102801Piva T, Zerbini V, Barducco A, Mancioppi S, Raisi A, Vassali M, Bianchini G, Laporta M, Menegatti E, Grazzi G, Mazzoni G, Mandini S. Reduction in reaction time and improved oculomotor function following football-specific vision training in young players. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Oct 16;17(1):298. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01368-z.
- Background: PubMed 18568979Bherer L, Kramer AF, Peterson MS, Colcombe S, Erickson K, Becic E. Transfer effects in task-set cost and dual-task cost after dual-task training in older and younger adults: further evidence for cognitive plasticity in attentional control in late adulthood. Exp Aging Res. 2008 Jul-Sep;34(3):188-219. doi: 10.1080/03610730802070068.
- Background: PubMed 35077302Beavan A, Hanke L, Spielmann J, Skorski S, Mayer J, Meyer T, Fransen J. The effect of stroboscopic vision on performance in a football specific assessment. Sci Med Footb. 2021 Nov;5(4):317-322. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2020.1862420. Epub 2020 Dec 20.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Derived data only will be shared. No direct identifiers or sensitive personal information will be included.
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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?
A study testing Stroboscopic Volleyball Training in people with Athletes and Sports Performance, run by Bozok University 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 5 inclusion and 6 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 6 Feb 2026. 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?
Prefrontal Cortical Activation (fNIRS) (time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 8-week intervention.). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT07392385, which also lists 6 linked publications.
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 6 Feb 2026.