Athletic PerformanceNCT07676630
Neuroscience-Based Exercise Training in Female Volleyball Players
A study testing Exercise in people with Athletic Performance and Cortical Activation, run by Özge Ecem Şenel at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
24 volunteer professional female volleyball players (aged 16-21), licensed in the Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) Women's Volleyball League 2 and 3, will be included in the study. Participants will be randomized into intervention (n=12) and control (n=12) groups using www.randomizer.org. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 16 to 21 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Athletic Performance, Cortical Activation, Gaze Tracking
- What is being tested?
- Exercise
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 20 Feb 2026to 15 Oct 2026
- 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 16 to 21 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Licensed female volleyball player in the Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) Women's Volleyball League 2 or League 3
- Aged between 16 and 21 years
- Actively participating in the sport for at least 3 years
Who cannot join
- Any history of musculoskeletal surgery
- An injury within the last 3 months that prevented participation in training or competition
- Any diagnosed visual impairment, visual function disorder, or vestibular system-related problem
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Istinye University Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Practice and Research Center
Istanbul, Zeytinburnu, 34010
About this study
Official title: Effect of Neuroscience-Based Exercise Training on Cortical Activation, Focus, and Performance in Professional Female Volleyball Players
24 volunteer professional female volleyball players (aged 16-21), licensed in the Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) Women's Volleyball League 2 and 3, will be included in the study. Participants will be randomized into intervention (n=12) and control (n=12) groups using www.randomizer.org. The intervention group will receive an 8-week (3 days/week) neuro-athletic exercise training program, including eye warm-up exercises and volleyball-specific visual and motor coordination stations, in addition to their regular training. The control group will continue with regular training only. Both groups will have equal total training time.
Visual attention and decision-making strategies will be measured with a wearable eye-tracking system (Pupil Labs Invisible) during a serve task. Cortical activation (oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin levels) in the frontal cortex during the same serve task will be measured simultaneously with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Sport-specific physical fitness will be evaluated with the T-Agility Test, radar gun serve speed measurement, VERT wearable jump analysis system, Y-Balance Test, and sit-and-reach test.
All assessments will be conducted before training begins and after the 8-week program. The study aims to determine whether neuro-athletic exercise training improves cortical activation, visual attention, decision-making processes, and sport-specific physical fitness parameters in professional female volleyball players, compared to a control group receiving regular training only.
Read the detailed description
Volleyball requires high-level cognitive and physical performance, including agility, decision-making, and motor coordination, often performed under time pressure. Neuro-athletic training is an emerging approach that integrates neurofeedback techniques with sport-specific exercises, targeting cognitive and motor functions through neuroplasticity-based principles. This approach aims to improve afferent and efferent neural system coordination, sensory processing, and motor control, which may translate into improved athletic performance and reduced injury risk.
This study investigates the effect of an 8-week neuro-athletic exercise training program on cortical activation, visual attention, decision-making processes, and sport-specific physical fitness in professional female volleyball players, using a randomized, controlled, parallel-group design.
A total of 24 female volleyball players, licensed in the Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) Women's Volleyball League 2 and League 3, aged 16-21 years, will be randomly allocated into an intervention group (n=12) and a control group (n=12) using www.randomizer.org. Sample size was determined using G*Power software (independent samples t-test, between-group comparison) with 95% power, 0.05 type-1 error, and a high effect size (f=0.75), with a 20% margin added to account for potential dropout.
The intervention group will receive a structured neuro-athletic exercise training program, 3 days per week for 8 weeks, added to their regular volleyball training as a warm-up component. The program includes eye warm-up exercises (eye massage, palming) and volleyball-specific visual-motor coordination stations: Saccade and Anti-Saccade stations, Smart Optometry station, Brock String, Star Chart station, and Pinhole Glasses Small Area Game. The control group will continue their regular training, warm-up, and cool-down routine without additional intervention. Total training time will be kept equal between groups to prevent differences in overall training load.
All participants will be assessed before the intervention begins and after the 8-week program. Primary assessments include:
Eye-tracking (Pupil Labs Invisible wearable system) to evaluate visual attention, gaze fixation, and visual search strategies during a serve task.
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure frontal cortex oxygenated (HbO) and deoxygenated (HbR) hemoglobin levels simultaneously during the same serve task, comparing pre-task, during-task, and post-task signal changes.
Secondary assessments include sport-specific physical fitness parameters:
T-Agility Test (agility, change of direction, coordination), with reaction time recorded via BlazePod integrated lights.
Serve speed, measured using a radar gun (Bushnell Velocity Speed Gun). Vertical jump performance (jump height, peak velocity, landing force), measured using the VERT wearable jump analysis system.
Y-Balance Test (dynamic balance and proprioception). Sit-and-Reach Test (lumbar and hamstring flexibility).
- Conditions
- Athletic Performance, Cortical Activation, Gaze Tracking
- Being tested
- Exercise
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
ExerciseBehavioural
An 8-week (3 days/week) structured program added to regular training, combining: (1) eye warm-up exercises (eye massage, palming) and (2) volleyball-specific visual-motor coordination stations, including Saccade, Anti-Saccade, and Smart Optometry stations (targeting visual tracking, reaction speed, and eye-hand coordination), Brock String (depth perception and eye-hand coordination), Star Chart station (visual scanning and spatial awareness), and Pinhole Glasses Small Area Game (restricted peripheral vision to enhance focused attention and quick decision-making). Sessions are conducted by a physiotherapist, with total training time matched to the control group.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Group | Experimental | Participants will receive an 8-week (3 days/week) neuroscience-based exercise training program in addition to their regular volleyball training. The program includes eye warm-up exercises (eye massage, palming) and volleyball-specific visual and motor coordination stations (Saccade, Anti-Saccade, Smart Optometry, Brock String, Star Chart, and Pinhole Glasses Small Area Game stations). Receives: Behavioral: Exercise |
| Control Group | No intervention | Participants will continue with their regular volleyball training routine, including standard warm-up and cool-down, without any additional neuroscience-based exercise intervention. Total training time will be kept equal to the intervention group. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy
Cortical Activation During Serve Task (fNIRS), measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during a serve task, comparing pre-task, during-task, and post-task signal changes. Change in oxygenated (HbO) and deoxygenated (HbR) hemoglobin levels in the frontal cortex.
Measured: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Pupil Lab Invisible Eye Tracker
Visual Attention and Decision-Making (Eye-Tracking Parameters). Measured using a wearable eye-tracking system (Pupil Labs Invisible) during a serve task, including total fixation duration and visual scan path parameters, automatically quantified using Pupil Player software. Measured change in gaze fixation duration and visual search patterns
Measured: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes (5)
T-Agility Test
Time to complete the T-Agility Test course, measured in seconds with a stopwatch; reaction time also recorded via BlazePod integrated lights in milliseconds. Measured change in T-Agility Test completion time
Measured: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Serve Speed
Measured change in serve speed. Measured in km/h using a radar gun (Bushnell Velocity Speed Gun) during 5 successful serves; highest recorded value used for analysis.
Measured: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Vertical Jump Performance
Measured using the VERT wearable jump analysis system across 5 maximal vertical jumps using the countermovement jump technique. Measured change in jump height, peak jump velocity, and landing force
Measured: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Y-Balance Test
Measured change in Y-Balance Test composite score. Composite reach score calculated from anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral reach directions, normalized to limb length.
Measured: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Sit-and-Reach Test
Measured change in sit-and-reach distance. Measures lumbar and hamstring muscle flexibility using a sit-and-reach box; distance recorded in centimeters.
Measured: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Jun 2026
- Study start20 Feb 2026
- Primary completion30 Sep 2026
- Study completion15 Oct 2026
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 Athletic PerformanceStudies 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
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Özge Ecem Şenel
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Özge Ecem Şenel, Istinye University
- Investigators
- OZGE ECEM SENEL, PT, MSc, Principal investigator, Istinye University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07676630
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2026/43
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 24 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 20 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Soylu, C.; Altundag, E. Rewiring for Victory: Neuro-Athletic Training Enhances Flexibility, Serve Speed, and Upper Limb Performance in Elite Volleyball Players-A Randomized Controlled Trial. Appl. Sci. 2024, 14, 11102. https://doi.org/10.3390/app142311102
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Neuroscience-Based Exercise Training on Cortical Activation, Focus, and Performance in Professional Female Volleyball Players
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07676630
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2026/43
- Conditions
- Athletic Performance, Cortical Activation, Gaze Tracking
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Özge Ecem ŞenelUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Oct 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 30 Jun 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.
24 volunteer professional female volleyball players (aged 16-21), licensed in the Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) Women's Volleyball League 2 and 3, will be included in the study. Participants will be randomized into intervention (n=12) and control (n=12) groups using www.randomizer.org. The intervention group will receive an 8-week (3 days/week) neuro-athletic exercise training program, including eye warm-up exercises and volleyball-specific visual and motor coordination stations, in addition to their regular training. The control group will continue with regular training only. Both groups will have equal total training time.
Visual attention and decision-making strategies will be measured with a wearable eye-tracking system (Pupil Labs Invisible) during a serve task. Cortical activation (oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin levels) in the frontal cortex during the same serve task will be measured simultaneously with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Sport-specific physical fitness will be evaluated with the T-Agility Test, radar gun serve speed measurement, VERT wearable jump analysis system, Y-Balance Test, and sit-and-reach test.
All assessments will be conducted before training begins and after the 8-week program. The study aims to determine whether neuro-athletic exercise training improves cortical activation, visual attention, decision-making processes, and sport-specific physical fitness parameters in professional female volleyball players, compared to a control group receiving regular training only.
Detailed description
Volleyball requires high-level cognitive and physical performance, including agility, decision-making, and motor coordination, often performed under time pressure. Neuro-athletic training is an emerging approach that integrates neurofeedback techniques with sport-specific exercises, targeting cognitive and motor functions through neuroplasticity-based principles. This approach aims to improve afferent and efferent neural system coordination, sensory processing, and motor control, which may translate into improved athletic performance and reduced injury risk.
This study investigates the effect of an 8-week neuro-athletic exercise training program on cortical activation, visual attention, decision-making processes, and sport-specific physical fitness in professional female volleyball players, using a randomized, controlled, parallel-group design.
A total of 24 female volleyball players, licensed in the Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) Women's Volleyball League 2 and League 3, aged 16-21 years, will be randomly allocated into an intervention group (n=12) and a control group (n=12) using www.randomizer.org. Sample size was determined using G*Power software (independent samples t-test, between-group comparison) with 95% power, 0.05 type-1 error, and a high effect size (f=0.75), with a 20% margin added to account for potential dropout.
The intervention group will receive a structured neuro-athletic exercise training program, 3 days per week for 8 weeks, added to their regular volleyball training as a warm-up component. The program includes eye warm-up exercises (eye massage, palming) and volleyball-specific visual-motor coordination stations: Saccade and Anti-Saccade stations, Smart Optometry station, Brock String, Star Chart station, and Pinhole Glasses Small Area Game. The control group will continue their regular training, warm-up, and cool-down routine without additional intervention. Total training time will be kept equal between groups to prevent differences in overall training load.
All participants will be assessed before the intervention begins and after the 8-week program. Primary assessments include:
Eye-tracking (Pupil Labs Invisible wearable system) to evaluate visual attention, gaze fixation, and visual search strategies during a serve task.
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure frontal cortex oxygenated (HbO) and deoxygenated (HbR) hemoglobin levels simultaneously during the same serve task, comparing pre-task, during-task, and post-task signal changes.
Secondary assessments include sport-specific physical fitness parameters:
T-Agility Test (agility, change of direction, coordination), with reaction time recorded via BlazePod integrated lights.
Serve speed, measured using a radar gun (Bushnell Velocity Speed Gun). Vertical jump performance (jump height, peak velocity, landing force), measured using the VERT wearable jump analysis system.
Y-Balance Test (dynamic balance and proprioception). Sit-and-Reach Test (lumbar and hamstring flexibility).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Group | Experimental | Behavioral: ExerciseParticipants will receive an 8-week (3 days/week) neuroscience-based exercise training program in addition to their regular volleyball training. The program includes eye warm-up exercises (eye massage, palming) and volleyball-specific visual and motor coordination stations (Saccade, Anti-Saccade, Smart Optometry, Brock String, Star Chart, and Pinhole Glasses Small Area Game stations). |
| Control Group | No intervention | –Participants will continue with their regular volleyball training routine, including standard warm-up and cool-down, without any additional neuroscience-based exercise intervention. Total training time will be kept equal to the intervention group. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 16 to 21 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Licensed female volleyball player in the Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) Women's Volleyball League 2 or League 3
- Aged between 16 and 21 years
- Actively participating in the sport for at least 3 years
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Any history of musculoskeletal surgery
- An injury within the last 3 months that prevented participation in training or competition
- Any diagnosed visual impairment, visual function disorder, or vestibular system-related problem
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 |
|---|---|---|
| ExerciseAn 8-week (3 days/week) structured program added to regular training, combining: (1) eye warm-up exercises (eye massage, palming) and (2) volleyball-specific visual-motor coordination stations, including Saccade, Anti-Saccade, and Smart Optometry stations (targeting visual tracking, reaction speed, and eye-hand coordination), Brock String (depth perception and eye-hand coordination), Star Chart station (visual scanning and spatial awareness), and Pinhole Glasses Small Area Game (restricted peripheral vision to enhance focused attention and quick decision-making). Sessions are conducted by a physiotherapist, with total training time matched to the control group. | Behavioural | Intervention Group |
Primary outcome
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Cortical Activation During Serve Task (fNIRS), measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during a serve task, comparing pre-task, during-task, and post-task signal changes. Change in oxygenated (HbO) and deoxygenated (HbR) hemoglobin levels in the frontal cortex.
Pupil Lab Invisible Eye Tracker
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Visual Attention and Decision-Making (Eye-Tracking Parameters). Measured using a wearable eye-tracking system (Pupil Labs Invisible) during a serve task, including total fixation duration and visual scan path parameters, automatically quantified using Pupil Player software. Measured change in gaze fixation duration and visual search patterns
5 secondary outcomes
T-Agility Test
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Serve Speed
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Vertical Jump Performance
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Y-Balance Test
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Sit-and-Reach Test
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
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 20 Oct 2026.
- Results publicationSoylu, C.; Altundag, E. Rewiring for Victory: Neuro-Athletic Training Enhances Flexibility, Serve Speed, and Upper Limb Performance in Elite Volleyball Players-A Randomized Controlled Trial. Appl. Sci. 2024, 14, 11102. https://doi.org/10.3390/app142311102
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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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.
OZGE ECEM SENEL, PT, MSc principal investigator
Istinye University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Exercise in people with Athletic Performance and Cortical Activation, run by Özge Ecem Şenel 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 3 inclusion and 3 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 20 Oct 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?
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks). The study lists 2 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 NCT07676630, 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 20 Oct 2026.