Wearable eye-tracking of visuomotor strategies in table tennis players of diverse expertise and cognitive function in a naturalistic environment

Guiseris-Santaflorentina, Alejandro ; Sanchez-Cano, Ana (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Orduna-Hospital, Elvira (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Understanding how gaze behaviour and visuomotor control vary across populations is crucial for optimizing performance and training in fast-paced sports. However, studies involving athletes with cognitive disabilities remain limited, particularly in naturalistic environments. This study employed wearable eye-tracking technology to examine gaze behaviour and oculomotor control in table tennis players of differing skill levels and cognitive profiles. Forty-six participants were grouped as Professional athletes, Amateur players, individuals with Down syndrome (DS), or intellectual disabilities (ID). All completed table tennis-specific tasks in naturalistic environment training conditions while wearing a head-mounted eye-tracker. Oculomotor metrics, including fixation frequency and duration, saccade frequency and velocity, and pupil diameter, were analysed. Fixation duration did not differ across groups (≈272–301 ms; p = 0.984, η2 = −0.032), whereas fixation frequency varied: ID participants (80.67 ± 6.81 %) and Amateurs (78.98 ± 5.22 %) showed higher and more consistent rates, DS participants were lower and more variable (74.56 ± 17.37 %), and Professionals maintained moderately lower but strategically balanced frequency (77.78 ± 12.64 %). Although saccade metrics were not statistically significant, trends suggested more controlled patterns in Professionals (right eye (RE) length: 1414.63 ± 720.47 mm; longitudinal velocity: 13,888.52 ± 4242.25 mm/s) and higher variability in DS participants (RE length: 2254.03 ± 3215.55 mm; longitudinal velocity: 16,274.78 ± 6,837.21 mm/s). Pupil diameter was significantly larger in Professionals (RE: 5.26 ± 0.79 mm; left eye (LE): 5.40 ± 0.81 mm; p < 0.001), indicating higher visual engagement and cognitive arousal. Binocular vergence metrics remained stable across groups, and gaze heat maps revealed more focused visual strategies in Professionals, while participants with DS and ID exhibited dispersed, less task-relevant fixations. These findings indicate that the accuracy of eye movements, rather than their duration, serves as a sensitive indicator of visuomotor expertise. In conclusion, wearable eye-tracking in naturalistic sport environment offers valuable insights into visual strategies across diverse populations and supports the development of tailored visual training programs, particularly for athletes with cognitive disabilities.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2025.103448

Año: 2026

Publicado en: HUMAN MOVEMENT SCIENCE 105 (2026), 103448 [18 pp.]
ISSN: 0167-9457

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Óptica (Dpto. Física Aplicada)