Author(s): RAMYARANGSI, P., SIRIPORNPANICH, V., POKAISASAWAN, A., AJJIMAPORN, A., Institution: MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY, Country: THAILAND, Abstract-ID: 504

INTRODUCTION: Visual-cognitive abilities, including visual working memory, peripheral vision, and accommodative speed, are critical determinants of esports performance, where players must rapidly process dynamic visual information and shift attention between multiple spatial targets. Despite their importance, evidence supporting targeted visual training interventions in esports remains limited. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of a four-week esports-specific eye movement exercise (EME) program on visual skill performance in amateur esports players.
METHODS: Thirty female amateur esports players were randomly assigned to a training group (EME: age 22 ± 2 years) or a control group (CN: age 21 ± 2 years). The EME group completed a four-week ocular-motor training program consisting of twice-daily exercise sessions, while the control group maintained their usual daily activities. Visual skills were assessed at baseline and post-intervention using computerized tests of visual working memory (1-back and 2-back), dynamic peripheral vision, and near–far accommodation. Response time and accuracy were analyzed using two-way repeated-measures ANOVA to examine the effects of time and group.
RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in the EME group for visual working memory and accommodative speed (p < .05). In the 1-back task, a significant time-by-group interaction was found for response time, with faster responses following training compared with baseline (p < .05) and the control group (p < .05). Similarly, in the 2-back task, significant main effects of time and time-by-group interactions indicated faster post-training responses in the EME group (p < .05). Near–far accommodation also demonstrated significant time and interaction effects, with markedly shorter response times after four weeks of training (p < .05). In contrast, no significant changes were observed in dynamic peripheral vision accuracy in either group (p > .05).
CONCLUSION: A four-week esports-specific EME program significantly enhanced visual working memory and near–far accommodative speed in amateur esports players, reflecting improvements in visual-cognitive processing and visual flexibility. Although peripheral vision accuracy did not change, the observed gains in response speed suggest that short-term ocular-motor training can meaningfully enhance key visual skills relevant to esports performance.