Gaze Tracking Techniques for Baseball Performance

Overseen By Nick F Fogt, OD, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Ohio State University

Disqualifiers: Poor vision, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

21 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to measure the gaze movements of individuals as they watch videos of a baseball pitcher throwing pitches. The goal will be to determine whether there is an anticipatory movement to the location where the ball is released, and whether this anticipatory movement occurs in experienced baseball players more commonly than in inexperienced players.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Gaze tracking for baseball performance?

Research shows that eye-tracking technology is being explored for its potential to improve sports performance by analyzing gaze behavior, which could help baseball players track pitched balls more effectively. Although direct evidence for baseball performance is limited, similar studies in sports suggest that understanding and improving gaze strategies can enhance athletic performance. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is gaze tracking technology safe for use in humans?

The research articles reviewed do not provide specific safety data for gaze tracking technology, but they do not report any safety concerns or adverse effects in studies involving athletes and sports officials. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

How does the gaze tracking treatment for baseball performance differ from other treatments?

This treatment is unique because it uses eye and head tracking technology to improve baseball performance by analyzing gaze behavior, which is not a standard approach for enhancing sports skills. Unlike traditional training methods, it focuses on the visual strategies of players, potentially offering a novel way to enhance their ability to track and respond to pitched balls. ^{1 2 5 7 8}

Research Team

Nick F Fogt

Principal Investigator

Ohio State University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals with good vision, specifically those who have a stereoacuity of 40 arc seconds or better and 20/20 visual acuity in each eye. It's not suitable for people with lesser stereoacuity or worse than 20/25 visual acuity in either eye.

Inclusion Criteria

Stereoacuity of 40 arc seconds or better

20/20 visual acuity in each eye

Exclusion Criteria

20/25 or worse visual acuity in either eye

Stereoacuity less than 40 arc seconds

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

Experiment

Participants' visual acuity and stereoacuity are measured, and they complete a survey on baseball experience. They then participate in trials mimicking batting while their gaze is tracked.

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any immediate effects or feedback after the experiment

1 day

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Gaze tracking

Trial Overview The study measures gaze movements while participants watch videos of baseball pitches to see if there's an anticipatory look towards where the ball will be released. It also checks if experienced players do this more often than inexperienced ones.

Participant Groups

Group I: Gaze tracking Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

No intervention. Monitor gaze as subjects watch a video

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Ohio State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

891

Recruited

2,659,000+

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reliability of Objective Eye-Tracking Measures Among Healthy Adolescent Athletes. [2021]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A method to monitor eye and head tracking movements in college baseball players. [2019]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Eye tracking technology in sports-related concussion: a systematic review and meta-analysis. [2019]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An objective evaluation of gaze tracking in Humphrey perimetry and the relation with the reproducibility of visual fields: a pilot study in glaucoma. [2022]

5. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Eye-tracking technology and the dynamics of natural gaze behavior in sports: an update 2016-2022. [2023]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Visual gaze behavior of near-expert and expert fast pitch softball umpires calling a pitch. [2016]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Vertical head and eye movements in baseball batting. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Quiet eye gaze behavior of expert, and near-expert, baseball plate umpires. [2013]