Amornpan Ajjimaporn

Introduction: This study explored the influences of a modified brain break warm-up—combining structured physical movement and mindfulness—on various aspects of executive function and mood state in elite Thai esports players. Objective: To explore the effect of the Modified Brain Break Warm-up (MBBW) program on executive function and mood states in e-sports players. Methodology: Sixty players were classified according to proficiency and randomly allocated to either an experimental group performing the MBBW or a control group doing general esports warm-ups. Executive function was measured through inhibitory control, reaction time, task shifting, and working memory updating. Mood state and refocusing were assessed through standard psychological procedures. Between-group analyses of post-intervention results were subjected to statistical analyses. Results: The protocol led to significantly larger effects on all outcome measures compared to the control condition. Pro-player and amateur experimental groups both trained enhanced inhibitory control, switching task reaction time, and refocusing ability. The program also increased feelings of vigorousness and decreased confusion, depression, fatigue, and anger. It is worth noting that on several cognitive metrics, the low-level experimental group also outperformed the high-level control, indicating very positive effects of the program at both skill levels. Discussion: The MBBW protocol is an effective and evidence-based means to improve cognitive preparation and negative psychological states prior to competition. Conclusion: The outcome of this study suggests that the MBBW is effective at promoting executive function and mood state in esports players.

Beneficial metabolic and cardiovascular effects of anthocyanin-rich New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) were primarily observed in studies with female and male Caucasian participants. We examined the effects of 14-day intake of NZBC extract (daily 210 mg of anthocyanins) during supine rest and moderate-intensity treadmill walking in Southeast Asian women ( n = 16, age: 23 ± 5 years, BMI: 22.9 ± 3.8 kg·m ^− 2 , body fat (BF): 35 ± 5%). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design was used. Beat-by-beat (PhysioFlow ^® Endure™) and breath-by-breath (Cortex Metalyzer 3B) measurements were recorded during 10-min of supine rest and 30-min of moderate-intensity treadmill walking (speed: 4.84 ± 1.00 km·h ^− 1 ). At rest, NZBC extract had no effect on the cardiovascular, physiological and metabolic responses. During moderate-intensity exercise, only lower systemic vascular resistance (15%) was observed in 50% of the participants based on the smallest worthwhile change analysis ( P = 0.08 for the cohort with moderate effect size, d = 0.62). There was a significant correlation between fat oxidation during rest and moderate-intensity walking in the placebo and NZBC extract condition. There was a trend ( P = 0.08) for the linear relationship between the walking-induced placebo respiratory exchange ratio and change in fat oxidation by intake of NZBC extract. In Southeast Asian women, 14-day anthocyanin-rich NZBC extract did not elicit consistent cardiorespiratory and metabolic effects, although some participants showed reduced systemic vascular resistance. It is possible that there was not the bioavailability of plasma anthocyanin-induced metabolites that could alter cell function for metabolic responses. Further research should optimize dosing strategies and examine the roles of ethnicity, sex, and anthocyanin-induced metabolite bioavailability in shaping responsiveness to the intake of anthocyanins.

Purpose: Visual skills are fundamental for athletic performance, yet studies present mixed evidence regarding the efficacy of visual training, with variations in methodologies and sport-specific applicability contributing to the ongoing debate. This systematic review evaluated various visual training interventions on athletes’ performance from 2012 to 2022.Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta- Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive search across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane (2012–2022) using terms such as ‘visual training’, ‘sports vision’, and ‘cognitive-motor training’ identified 24 eligible randomised controlled trials based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.Results: Fourteen distinct visual training programs were analysed, with Quiet Eye Training, Stroboscopic Training, and 3D-MOT Training being the most frequently investigated. Quiet Eye Training improved accuracy, gaze control, and stress regulation. Stroboscopic Training enhanced visuomotor coordination, although its effects on visual perception varied. 3D-MOT Training improved the ability to track multiple moving objects, particularly benefiting dynamic sports such as soccer. However, not all programs yielded significant performance gains, emphasising the importance of sport-specific training approaches.Conclusions: A key limitation was the variation in study designs and outcomes, which hindered direct comparisons. This review highlights the potential of visual training to improve athletic performance and underscores the need for future research with standardised protocols, larger sample sizes, and stronger emphasis on sport-specific applications and individual differences among athletes.

Caffeine is commonly used to combat fatigue and enhance both cognitive and physical performance. However, its effects on neurophysiological responses and sport-specific performance following fatigue induction remain unclear, particularly in combat sports such as Taekwondo. This study investigated the effects of a 200 mg caffeine dose on physiological markers, electroencephalographic (EEG) brainwave activity, auditory P300 event-related potentials (ERPs), and Taekwondo-specific performance following combined mental and physical fatigue. Thirteen male Taekwondo athletes participated in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study with caffeine (CAF) and placebo (PLA) conditions. Measurements were taken at baseline (pre-supplementation), 30 minutes post-supplementation (post-Sup), and after fatigue induction (post-I). Physiological parameters (heart rate, blood glucose, blood lactate, and ratings of perceived exertion), EEG brainwave activity during resting eyes-open conditions, auditory P300 ERPs, and Taekwondo-specific agility (TSAT) were assessed at all time points. Caffeine significantly reduced delta wave power at frontal and parieto-occipital sites at post-Sup (p < 0.05), indicating decreased cortical drowsiness; however, this effect was not sustained at post-I (p > 0.05). P300 amplitude significantly increased in the CAF condition compared to PLA from post-Sup to post-I at the central and parietal electrode sites (p < 0.05), while P300 latency remained unchanged (p > 0.05). No significant differences were observed in reaction time, accuracy, or error rate in the auditory oddball task or TSAT performance across conditions (p > 0.05). Similarly, physiological parameters remained unchanged between groups (p > 0.05). A single 200 mg dose of caffeine reduced central fatigue and enhanced cognitive processing, as reflected by suppressed delta wave activity at post-Sup and increased P300 amplitude at post-I. However, caffeine did not influence physiological responses or Taekwondo-specific performance. These findings suggest that low-dose caffeine primarily benefits cognitive function rather than physical performance in combat sports. Future studies should explore dose-response relationships and individual variability in caffeine metabolism to optimize its application in competitive settings.

Aim: This study examined cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses to activities (supine rest, sitting, standing and walking) in children aged 6–12 years with normal weight, overweight and obesity, focusing on sex‐specific differences. Overweight and obesity were categorised per World Health Organization criteria, emphasising their global health impact. Methods: Eighty‐four children were classified by weight status and assessed for heart rate (HR), breathing frequency (BF), minute ventilation (VE), oxygen consumption (VO ₂ ), carbon dioxide production (VCO ₂ ), resting energy expenditure (REE) and metabolic equivalents (METs) during each activity. Statistical analyses compared responses across weight and sex groups. Results: HR, BF and VE increased with activity intensity in all groups. Boys with overweight and boys with obesity had significantly higher HR than boys with normal weight, reflecting greater cardiac strain. VO ₂ and VCO ₂ were elevated in children with obesity, particularly girls, indicating increased metabolic demands. Boys with overweight and boys with obesity exhibited higher VE/VO ₂ and VE/VCO ₂ ratios during low‐intensity activities, reflecting reduced ventilatory efficiency. Conclusion: Strategies targeting respiratory and metabolic efficiency, including muscle strengthening and endurance exercises, are crucial for mitigating obesity‐related strain, particularly in girls. These findings highlight the need for tailored, sex‐specific interventions to address obesity in children.

Athletes heavily rely on visual perception for performance. This study delves into electroencephalographic (EEG) brain activity among gymnastics, soccer, and esports athletes during resting states with eyes closed (REC) and open (REO) and compares differences in EEG alpha power from REC to REO (∆ EC-EO ^Alpha) across athlete groups. Forty-two female participants, including 14 from each athletic discipline, underwent two 5-minute EEG recordings, first during REC and then during REO conditions. Absolute EEG power was analyzed for delta (δ), theta (θ), alpha (α), and beta (β) frequency bands across various brain regions, and ∆ EC-EO ^Alpha values were computed. During REC, soccer players exhibited heightened α power at the midline frontopolar (Fpz) and β power at the midline occipital (Oz). Conversely, during REO, soccer players displayed increased δ power at Fpz and midline frontal (Fz) and reduced α power at the midline central (Cz) compared to gymnasts, along with elevated θ power at Fpz. Esports athletes demonstrated higher δ power and decreased α power at Fpz and Cz compared to gymnasts. Gymnasts exhibited distinct cortical activation patterns characterized by lower ∆ EC-EO ^Alpha at multiple electrode sites. These findings highlight sport-specific cortical activation patterns linked to visual attention among athletes. Understanding these neural adaptations could refine training methods and enhance performance outcomes in sports.

Background: Visual skills are crucial for peak athletic performance, with Visual Accommodation (VA) playing a vital role. However, the immediate effects of interventions on VA in sports remain unclear. Objective: To investigate the acute effects of a 10-minute Pencil Push-Up (PPU) exercise on VA skills in amateur badminton players. Methods: A two-arm, parallel, randomized controlled trial was conducted with twenty-eight amateur badminton players. Participants were matched by age, duration, and frequency of badminton practice, as well as visual health, and randomly assigned to either a Trained Group (TG) or an untrained group (NT). The TG performed a 10-minute PPU exercise, while the NT rested with closed eyes for the same duration. VA parameters, including Amplitude of Accommodation (AA), Accommodative Facility (AF), and Near Point of Convergence (NPC), were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: Significant improvements in AA and AF were observed in the TG from pre- to post-intervention (AA: p < .0001, Cohen's d = 1.68; AF: p < .0001, Cohen's d = 3.10). However, no significant changes were observed in NPC (p= .45, Cohen's d =0.60). Furthermore, the TG exhibited greater improvements in AA and AF compared to the NT at post-intervention (AA: 95%CI= [-2.812 to -0.2314], p = .02; AF: 95%CI= [-8.363 to -3.680], p < .0001). No changes were observed in the NT group. Conclusion: A single session of pencil push-up exercise acutely enhanced visual accommodation skills, specifically amplitude of accommodation and accommodative facility, in amateur badminton players. This suggests that visual accommodation training methods like pencil push-ups could improve visual performance in sports. Clinical Trials Registry: TCTR20240531002 (https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/show/TCTR20240531002).