Motor Reaction Assessment in Multimodal Immersive and Laboratory Settings: A Time-Based Comparison in Athletes
摘要
Understanding how athletes respond to sensory stimuli is essential for improving training strategies, yet much of this research has taken place in highly controlled settings that may not reflect real-world conditions. This pilot study explores an alternative approach by integrating immersive virtual environments with physical objects to better simulate sports-relevant scenarios. Male athletes participated in a motor reaction task involving hand movements triggered by visual cues within a choice protocol. Each participant completed the task in two distinct environments: A conventional quiet lab environment (QLE) and a multimodal immersive environment (MIE). Reaction time (RT) and decision-making time (DM) were analyzed to assess performance. The results revealed that hand (left vs. right) had no significant effect on either RT or DM in either setting, consistent with existing literature. While DM remained stable across environments, RT was approximately 10% faster in the MIE compared to the QLE. These findings suggest that multimodal immersive environments may offer a valuable platform for presenting targeted stimuli during training and evaluation, potentially enhancing the real-world applicability of motor performance research in sports.