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

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Motor Imagery Reaction Time Vertical Jump Performance Volleyball

Age range

18 year–25 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Beykoz, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Volleyball Group

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

Inclusion criteria

Control Group

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

Exclusion criteria

(Applied to Both Groups)

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

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Mental Chronometry Test

Time frame: Baseline (single assessment during the initial study visit)

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.

Secondary outcomes

Hand Mental Rotation Task

Time frame: Baseline

Mean response time (milliseconds) for left/right hand discrimination tasks in the Orientate® application. Lower values indicate faster cognitive processing related to mental rotation.
Reaction Time (ms)

Time frame: Baseline

Mean reaction time across three trials measured using the BlazePod® wireless LED sensor system. Participants respond to visual stimuli with their dominant hand. Lower values indicate better reaction performance.
Vertical Jump Height (cm)

Time frame: Baseline

Mean jump height calculated from three countermovement jumps recorded and analyzed using the My Jump 2 smartphone application. Higher values indicate better lower-limb explosive performance.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Medipol University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Motor Imagery Ability, Hand Mental Rotation and Performance Outcomes in Female Volleyball Players: A Comparative Cross-sectional Study

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2025
First posted: Dec 8, 2025
Registry last updated: Dec 26, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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