Comparative visual pathway analysis in competitive sports: A cross-sectional visual evoked potential study

Central visual conduction ability is crucial to human perception and visual skills. In sports, for instance, it enables athletes to gather information, predict movements, make quick decisions, and perform precise motor actions. In the present study, modern electrophysiological tools, such as visual evoked potentials (VEPs), were employed to assess central visual transmission. The goal was to analyze three VEP waveforms (N75, P100, and N145) in male athletes (n = 100) from cricket, yogasana, karate, and gymnastics, together with a control group of physically active boys without specific training in these disciplines. For the P100 waveform, yogasana and karateka practitioners showed significantly shorter latencies compared to all other groups (p<0.05), followed by cricketers, who had latencies similar to gymnasts. The N75 waveform for yogasana and karate practitioners showed significantly faster transmission times than the cricket and control groups (p˂0.05). Furthermore, the N75 waveform for the left eye in gymnasts had shorter latency compared to cricketers and controls. The N145 wave for the right eye in yogasana and karate practitioners had shorter latencies compared to those of other athletes (p<0.05). Meanwhile, karatekas showed higher amplitudes than those practicing yogasana and the controls, indicating that training experience might be a key factor. This study provides valuable insights into the unique visual processing demands and capabilities of athletes in various disciplines. Yogasana and karate, being gaze-oriented practices that integrate mind–body control, showed shorter latency across all groups, followed by ocularly dominant cricketers, visually trained gymnasts, and controls.