Speed of Visual Sensorimotor Processes and Conductivity of Visual Pathway in Volleyball Players

• Authors: Teresa Zwierko , Wieslaw Osinski , Wojciech Lubinski , Damian Czepita , Beata Florkiewicz
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Volleyball is a dynamic game which requires a high level of visual skills. The first aim of this study was to investigate the several aspects of reaction times (RT) to visual stimuli in volleyball players (12) compared to non-athletic subjects (12). By using the tests included in the Vienna Test System (Schuhfried, Austria), simple reaction time (SRT), choice reaction time (CRT) and peripheral reaction time (PRT) were examined. The second aim of this study was to assess the neurophysiological basis of early visual sensory processing in both examined groups. We measured two sets of pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (VEPs) during monocular central field stimulation (Reti Scan, Roland Consult, Germany). The latencies of waves N75, P100 and N135 were determined. We observed significantly shorter (p<0.05) total reaction time to stimuli appearing in the central and peripheral field of vision in the volleyball players compared to non-athletes. With regard to SRT and CRT the main differences between the groups appeared in pre-motor reaction times. Volleyball players had shorter VEPs P100 wave latencies (p<0.05) than the non-athlete group. The results indicate faster signal transmission in visual pathways in athletes than in non-athletes. This fact can be attributed to the effect of rapid visual-activity-demanding sports on the central nervous system.

Keywords

EN

reaction time; visual evoked potentials; volleyball

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: Journal of Human Kinetics
• Year: 2010
• Volume: 23
• Pages: 21-27

Dates

published

1 - 1 - 2010

online

24 - 5 - 2010

Contributors

author

Teresa Zwierko

• Institute of Physical Culture, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland

author

Wieslaw Osinski

• Department of Theory of Physical Education and Anthropomotoric, Academy of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland

author

Wojciech Lubinski

• Department of Ophthalmology, Pomeranian Medical Academy, Szczecin, Poland

author

Damian Czepita

• Department of Ophthalmology, Pomeranian Medical Academy, Szczecin, Poland

author

Beata Florkiewicz

• Institute of Physical Culture, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/v10078-010-0003-8