Motor Imagery, Hand Mental Rotation, and Performance in Female Volleyball Players

NCT07270224 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: MedipolU-OP-AY-03
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 52
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

This comparative cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between motor imagery (MI) ability, hand mental rotation (HMR), and performance outcomes in female volleyball players. Volleyball is a high-speed, cognitively demanding sport requiring precise motor coordination, rapid decision-making, and explosive movements. MI-the mental simulation of movement-and HMR-the cognitive manipulation of hand orientation-are critical for motor planning and execution. The study has two primary objectives: (1) to compare MI ability and HMR performance between female volleyball players and sedentary controls, and (2) to evaluate associations between MI/HMR scores and reaction time as well as vertical jump performance among volleyball players. The investigators hypothesize that volleyball players will exhibit superior MI and HMR abilities compared to controls, and that higher MI and HMR scores will correlate with faster reaction times and greater vertical jump height. Findings from this study will elucidate the cognitive-motor mechanisms underlying athletic performance and may inform training strategies to enhance neuromotor efficiency in sport-specific contexts.

Conditions

Motor Imagery; Volleyball; Reaction Time; Vertical Jump Performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Mental Chronometry Test

  Mental chronometry ratio calculated as \|Actual Time - Imagined Time\| / Actual Time, measured during five actual vertical jumps and five imagined vertical jumps. Lower values indicate better motor imagery performance. Time measured in seconds using a stopwatch; ratio is unitless.

  Baseline (single assessment during the initial study visit)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Hand Mental Rotation Task

  Baseline

• Reaction Time (ms)

  Baseline

• Vertical Jump Height (cm)

  Baseline

Study Arms (2)

Female Volleyball Players

Female athletes currently participating in competitive volleyball; no intervention applied.

Controls Group

Female individuals not engaged in regular physical activity; no intervention applied.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: female
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of licensed female volleyball players competing in regional leagues and healthy female adults with no history of professional sports participation.

You may qualify if:

• Female participants aged 18-25 years
• Licensed professional volleyball players competing in national or regional leagues
• Currently playing an official main or secondary position
• Minimum of 5 years of professional volleyball experience
• Actively competing in volleyball for at least 1 year
• Training more than 10 hours per week
• No injury in the past 6 months that prevented participation in training or matches
• Ability and willingness to participate voluntarily
• Provided written informed consent
• Female participants aged 18-25 years
• No history of participation in professional or recreational overhead sports
• No lower extremity injury within the past 6 months
• Less than 1 hour per week of structured exercise within the past 6 months
• No previous licensed sports participation
• Provided written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Neurological, orthopedic, or systemic diseases
• History of lower extremity injury in the past 6 months
• Any pain, pathology, or instability affecting the upper or lower extremities
• Regular medication use
• Visual or hearing impairments
• Diagnosed cognitive or attention disorders

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medipol University: lead

Study Sites (2)

Istanbul Medipol University

Istanbul, Beykoz, 34158, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Ayşe Yazgan

Bakırköy, Istanbul, 34158, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Officials

• Ayşe Yazgan

  Medipol University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 25, 2025
• First Posted: December 8, 2025
• Study Start: November 10, 2025
• Primary Completion: November 25, 2025
• Study Completion: December 10, 2025
• Last Updated: December 26, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Locations

TU (2)