Journal of Sports Medicine & Doping Studies

Interocular Timing Variations in Horizontal Saccades of Ball Sport Athletes

Abstract

Luca Júlio

Interocular timing variations in horizontal saccades are a critical aspect of visual processing in ball sport athletes, influencing their ability to track moving objects accurately and respond effectively during gameplay. Saccadic eye movements, which involve rapid shifts of the eyes to reposition the fovea onto a target, are essential for maintaining visual stability and acquiring relevant visual information in dynamic environments. Ball sport athletes, who rely heavily on quick visual perception and reaction times, exhibit specialized adaptations in their saccadic performance that distinguish them from non-athletes. The investigation of interocular timing differences in horizontal saccades provides insight into the neuromuscular control mechanisms that underpin visual-motor coordination and decision-making in sports. Saccades are executed through a complex interplay between neural structures, including the superior colliculus, frontal eye fields, and cerebellum. These structures work in tandem to initiate and control saccadic movements, ensuring precise and rapid gaze shifts. In ball sport athletes, the demand for accurate tracking of fast-moving objects leads to heightened neural efficiency in generating and executing saccades. Interocular timing variations, or the differences in latency and velocity between the two eyes during horizontal saccades, can reflect underlying asymmetries in neural processing or muscular coordination. Understanding these variations allows researchers and coaches to refine training protocols aimed at enhancing visual tracking and motor performance in athletes.