Browsing by Author "Günay E."
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Item Nutritional Knowledge and Ergogenic Aid Using Status of Competitive and Recreational Cyclists(Pamukkale University, 2022) Sak D.; Dayi T.; Günay E.; Öniz A.This study aimed to determine cyclists' nutritional knowledge and habits and nutritional ergogenic aid usage and shed light on the relation between cyclists' nutritional knowledge and ergogenic aid usage. It was conducted in Cyprus. There were three groups (study groups: competitive cyclists-CC, recreational cyclists-RC, and control group-CG: sedentary adults). Data were collected with a questionnaire that includes three sections (the first two sections were related to general nutritional habits, ergogenic aids, and anthropometric measurements, and the last section included The Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire-NSKQ). All data were evaluated by Statistical Package for the Social Science-SPSS version 24.0. Totally 174 adults participated voluntarily in this study (n: 58 for each group). CC and RC skipped their main meals and smoked less than CG (p<0.05). Although most of the participants had poor sports nutrition knowledge (60.0%), CC had the highest NSKQ score, and this result showed us that CC had more information about sports nutrition than CG (p= 0.001). According to ergogenic aids usage, CC (56.9%) used more than RC (39.7%) (p= 0.000). This study showed that cyclists (CC and RC both) -who used ergogenic nutritional aids- had lower NSKQ scores (p= 0.027). In conclusion, the nutritional knowledge levels of the cyclists were found to be insufficient. It was observed that cyclists had significant differences in nutritional knowledge and low level of knowledge about ergogenic supports. Thus, continuous sports nutritional education is necessary to increase their knowledge. © 2022 The Author(s).Item Effect of Post-Warm-Up Three Different Duration Self-Selected Active Rests on 100 Meter Swimming Performance: Preliminary Findings(Montenegrin Sports Academy, 2022) Türkmen D.; Günay E.; Güdücü Ç.; Öniz A.; Bediz C.S.The question of when the optimal effect of warm-up is reached after the warm-up phase in swimming competitions is still not fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to see how self-selected active rest in three different duration periods affected 100-m maximum swimming performance. Eight well-trained elite swimmers (6 males and 2 females, mean age: 17.2 ± 3, mean 616 FINA points) were included in the study. After the participants completed a standard warm-up consisting of dryland-based dynamic warm-up (10-min) and in-water warm-up protocols (1200-m / ~25-min) in 3 different sessions, they observed different transition phase periods (15, 30 and 45-min) with standard clothes in their maximum heart rate of 30% and self-selected movement forms (stretching, walking, etc.) completed by active rest. Subsequently, swimmers carried out the 100-m maximum time-trial swim test using their main stroke. Tympanic temperature (Ttympanic), forehead temperature (Tforehead), heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and maximal 100-m-time-trial (TT) were recorded during all sessions. Measurements were evaluated in repeated measures ANOVA. Delta (Δ) calculation was used to score changes and strengthen the analysis. The 100-m time-trial demonstrated a trend of improvement in 30-min active rest (p=0.037). In addition, there was no difference between rest times in Tforehead, Ttympanic, HR, and RPE conditions (p>0.05). The 30-min active rest interval improved 100-m swimming performance by 1.6% and 0.8% compared to 15-min and 45-min active rest. The positive effect of pool warm-up can be maintained for up to 30 minutes with self-paced active rest. © 2022 by the author(s). License MSA, Podgorica, Montenegro. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY).Item The Effect of the Playing Positions in Basketball on Measures of Cognitive Performance(Springer Nature, 2023) Mancı E.; Günay E.; Güdücü Ç.; Herold F.; Bediz C.Ş.Purpose: To compete at a high-performance level, an athlete needs not only extraordinary physical capabilities but also extraordinary cognitive capabilities. However, position-specific differences concerning cognitive performance capabilities in team sport athletes (e.g., basketball) have, so far, not been extensively studied. Thus, this study investigated possible position-specific differences in specific cognitive performance capabilities in a cohort of trained basketball athletes playing guard, forward, or center positions for more than 10 years. Methods: 27 male basketball players and 20 sedentary controls were included in this study. We used three cognitive tests (i.e., Change Detection Test, Timewall Test, and Mackworth Clock Test) to investigate possible cognitive performance differences concerning position-specific capabilities. Thereto, indices of cognitive performance were compared between the athletes of the different playing positions and sedentary controls. Results: In the Change Detection Test, the number of correct answers from guards was significantly higher than the one of the forwards, centers, and sedentary controls (p <.001). During the Timewall Test, centers’ timing scores were significantly higher than the one of the guards, forwards, and sedentary controls (p <.001). Concerning the Mackworth Clock Test, no significant differences between the playing positions were observed, although all basketball players outperformed sedentary controls. Conclusion: In summary, the results of this cross-sectional study provide evidence (i) that trained basketball players are equipped with superior cognitive capabilities as compared to sedentary controls, and (ii) that in trained basketball players position-related differences in specific cognitive capabilities occur. In regard to the latter, our findings suggest that guards are equipped with superior visuospatial attention and short-term memory capabilities whereas centers showed superior visuospatial perception and timing abilities. Whether such differences are caused by long-term position-specific training, are a result of a selection process, or a result of both factors needs to be investigated in future longitudinal studies. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.Item The Influence of Acute Sprint Interval Training on the Cognitive Performance of Male Basketball Players: An Investigation of Expertise-Related Differences(MDPI, 2023) Mancı E.; Herold F.; Günay E.; Güdücü Ç.; Müller N.G.; Bediz C.Ş.Highly developed cognitive abilities are an important prerequisite for reaching elite athletic levels. This study aimed to investigate the effect of an acute sprint interval training (SIT) session on the cognitive performance of amateur and elite players. Eighteen amateur and ten elite male basketball players were included in this study. They were asked to perform an acute SIT consisting of the Wingate Test (i.e., four bouts of 30 s all-out sprints) on a cycle ergometer, interspersed with 4 min of active recovery. Before and after the acute SIT, three cognitive tests (i.e., Change Detection Test, Timewall Test, Mackworth Clock Test) were performed. Exercise-induced changes in cognitive performance and between-group differences were analyzed. We did not observe significant between-group differences in the performance of any cognitive test at the pretest, but elite basketball players outperformed the amateur players in specific measures of the Change Detection Test and Timewall Test after the acute SIT (p < 0.05). In addition, for the Clock Test, only the elite basketball players’ performance improved from pre- to posttest. The current study’s findings suggest that male elite basketball players, compared to amateur basketball players, can preserve their cognitive performance after an acute bout of SIT. © 2023 by the authors.Item The Effect of Post-activation Performance Enhancement of Coincidence Anticipation Timing in Basketball Players(Springer Nature, 2023) Günay A.R.; Genç S.; Salman K.; Günay E.The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) method of coincidence anticipation timing in male basketball players. Seventeen male basketball players (mean age 20.17 years, height 1.87 m, weight 80.08 kg, training age 10.05 years) were included in the study. The study consists of two sessions. In the first session, after the participants were informed about the study and their consent was obtained, anthropometric measurements, coincidence anticipation timing (CAT) performances, and one-repetition maximum measurements were performed, respectively. Two days later, each participant performed five repetitions of back squats with 80% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) resistance after 20 min of general warm-up phases. Then, participants rested passively for 3 min. The CAT measurements of the participants were recorded after the rest period. Data were analyzed separately for CAT3 and CAT9 timing error scores in terms of pre-/post-PAPE. The results of the paired sample t-test showed that PAPE significantly decreased timing error scores on CAT 9 mph (p < 0.01). The same results were found for CAT 3 mph, and the Wilcoxon test result showed significantly decreased timing error scores after PAPE (p < 0.05). The findings showed that PAPE is an effective method for improving anticipation performance in sports such as basketball, where success is achieved through fast games. It can contribute positively to game-specific cognitive processes. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.Item Brain hemodynamic changes during sprint interval cycling exercise and recovery periods; [Modifications hémodynamiques au niveau du cerveau pendant des intervalles de sprint et de récupération sur ergocycle](Elsevier Masson s.r.l., 2023) Manci E.; Günay E.; Güdücü C.; Özgören M.; Bediz C.S.Objectives: The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is one of the most investigated brain regions on exercise due to its relationship with maintaining exercise. This study aims to demonstrate the effects of a high-intensity exercise on cerebral hemodynamic parameters in the PFC and how physical load reflects on PFC. Methods: Twelve male (mean ± SD: age = 20 ± 1.56 years) performed the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT; 30-s all-out) for three repetitions as a Sprint Interval Training (SIT) exercise model via a cycling ergometer with 4 min of active recovery (50 W, 50 rpm) between the repetitions. A functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) device was used to record hemodynamic changes of the prefrontal cortex throughout the entire protocol. Results: The oxy-hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) and total-hemoglobin (total-Hb) levels in the PFC were increased significantly (P < 0.001), while the power outputs were decreased in repetitive WAnT's (P < 0.05). The oxy-Hb values were higher than the pre-exercise values even in the recovery periods between WAnT's (P < 0.001). Conclusions: In conclusion, repeated load with the active recovery periods might be an optimal approach for increasing the PFC oxygenation to its peak values. These results suggest that a repeated Wingate test could be used as a test to improve the metabolic condition of the athlete's brain. © 2022 Elsevier Masson SASItem The Effect of Fluid Restriction and Intake Conditions on the Shooting Performance of Competitive Adolescent Handball Players(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2024) Uylas E.; Mancı E.; Rodriguez-Sanchez N.; Bediz C.Ş.; Günay E.(1) Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of fluid restriction and intake (water vs. sports drink) on shooting accuracy and speed in adolescent handball players, a population with high sensitivity to hydration levels yet understudied in this context. (2) Methods: A total of 47 adolescent competitive handball players (15.04 ± 1.5 years) were included in this study, and the participants were divided into low, average, and high performance according to their shooting performance in the familiarization session. All participants were exposed to fluid restriction and intake conditions during handball training on different days. Before and after the training sessions, changes in shooting accuracy and speed were evaluated. (3) Results: The training protocol resulted in body mass loss in the Average Performer group (p = 0.001). Compared to fluid restriction, fluid intake (water intake and sports drink intake) post-training had a positive main effect on shooting accuracy, F(2, 88) = 34.32, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.44, and shooting speed, F(1, 61) = 4.05, p = 0.35, ηp2 = 0.84. (4) Conclusions: Hydration level plays an important role in shooting accuracy and speed performance in adolescent handball players. Therefore, fluid intake integrated into training or match sessions may contribute to the maintenance and improvement of shooting performance. © 2024 by the authors.Item The relationship between esports game genres and cognitive performance: A comparison between first-person shooter vs. multiplayer online battle arena games in younger adults(Elsevier B.V., 2024) Mancı E.; Güdücü Ç.; Günay E.; Güvendi G.; Campbell M.; Bediz C.Ş.The relationship between esports and cognitive performance has recently gained interest in scientific research. Specifically, the cognitive characteristics of popular gaming genres such as Multiplayer Online Battle Arena Games (MOBA) and First-Person Shooter (FPS) are needed to be explained. This present study aimed to compare cognitive abilities and reveal the differences between players who regularly play MOBA and FPS games. The participants were divided according to the game genres into MOBA players (n = 17; game experience = 9.17 ± 2.21 years) and FPS players (n = 22; game experience = 10.90 ± 3.62 years). Four cognitive tests (i.e., Change Detection, Mackworth Clock, Timewall, and Flanker Test) were administered to the participants via a computerized test battery. The data of the different groups were statistically compared. In the Mackworth Clock Test, FPS players had a higher percentage of correct answers than MOBA players (p =.02). The number of correct answers and reaction times obtained from the Flanker test by FPS players were higher compared to MOBA players (p =.02 and p =.01, respectively). This study revealed that the sustained attention, reaction time, and inhibition skills of FPS players are better than MOBA players. These findings may help to shed light on some of the cognitive abilities that might be more relevant to the FPS genres. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.Item The influence of acute sprint exercise on cognition, gaming performance, and cortical hemodynamics in esports players and age-matched controls(Springer, 2024) Mancı E.; Gençtürk U.; Günay E.; Güdücü Ç.; Herold F.; Bediz C.Ş.The relationship between esports and cognitive performance has recently gained increasing interest in the scientific community. However, our knowledge of the effects of acute sprint exercise (SE) on game performance and cognitive performance of esports players (as compared to age-matched controls) is scant. To address this gap, this study using a between-subjects design with pretest-posttest comparisons recruited amateur esports players aged between 18 and 35 years, and healthy age-matched controls who did not play esports games. The participants performed the Go/No-go test, Tracking Test, and the First Person Shooter (FPS) game Valorant immediately before and 5 and 30 min after SE. In addition to the behavioral performance, changes in the cortical hemodynamics of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) were recorded before and after the acute physical exercise while playing Valorant using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The results show that amateur esports players have superior performance in both game performance (p <.001) and specific measures of cognitive performance (i.e., Tracking Test, p <.05), regardless of the sessions. After the acute physical exercise, the gaming performance in both groups improved, and amateur esports players showed a higher accuracy in the Go/No-go task 30 min after SE. Regarding PFC cortical hemodynamics, no significant difference was noticed in the oxygenation values of both groups between pre and post tests, and between-group differences (p >.05). In conclusion, our study provides evidence that (i) amateur esports players have superior cognitive performance in specific domains and (ii) an acute bout of physical exercise can increase the gaming performance of both amateur esports players and healthy age-matched controls. © The Author(s) 2024.Item Integrating Kata Training into School Education: Effects on Sustained Attention and Cognitive Performance in 8–9-Year-Old Children(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025) Gökdere F.; Uylas E.; Çatıkkaş F.; Günay E.; Ceylan H.İ.; Özgören M.(1) Background: The ability to sustain attention in primary school children aged 8–9 years plays a critical role in maintaining focus for extended periods, enabling them to comprehend and integrate large amounts of information. Enhancing sustained attention during this formative stage significantly improves a child’s capacity to acquire and consolidate new skills and knowledge, laying a strong foundation for academic and cognitive development. (2) Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effect of an 8-week kata training program on attention and its components in 8–9-year-old school-age children, a critical developmental period for attention. (3) Methods: After excluding the participants who gave a low number of correct answers in the pre-test or created a ceiling effect, 43 participants, aged 9.12 ± 0.40 years, were included in this study. This study, conducted during the academic term, included three measurement phases and a familiarization session. Attention parameters were evaluated using the Bourdon–Vos Test, and participants were categorized into Low Performers (LP) and High Performers (HP) based on pre-test scores. The intervention group (INT) underwent kata training thrice weekly for 8 weeks, while the control group (CON) followed their regular activities. Post-training, attention parameters were reassessed using the Bourdon–Vos Test. (4) Results: In the post-intervention analysis, significant improvements in the number of correct responses were observed in both the LP (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = −1.333) and HP (p = 0.001, Cohen’s d = −1.644) groups within the INT group. In the CON group, significant improvement was observed only in the HP group (p = 0.031, Cohen’s d = −0.948). Regarding attention processing speed, significant pre-post improvements were found exclusively in the INT group (p < 0.001). Block-wise analysis revealed significant differences only in Block 1 of the CON group (p = 0.011, Cohen’s d = −0.522). However, in the INT group, significant improvements were observed in both Block 1 (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = −1.200) and Block 2 (p = 0.004, Cohen’s d = −0.678). (5) Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight the effectiveness of an 8-week kata training program in enhancing sustained attention and cognitive processing speed among 8–9-year-old children, particularly in low-performing groups. This suggests that integrating structured kata-based motor and cognitive activities into school curricula can serve as a promising strategy for addressing attention deficits and promoting cognitive development during this critical developmental period. Future studies should examine the long-term effects of kata training on attention and related cognitive functions, such as working memory and executive control. Investigating neurophysiological mechanisms through neuroimaging and including diverse age groups with larger samples could further validate these findings. © 2025 by the authors.Item The effects of resistance based postactivation performance enhancement on reaction time and change of direction in basketball players(Public Library of Science, 2025) Genç S.; Günay A.R.; Günay E.The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) intervention with 80% one repetition maximum (1RM) resistance on change of direction (COD) and reaction time (RT) in basketball players. This study sixteen male basketball players (mean age: 20.25 years, height: 1.88 m, weight: 80.75 kg, training age: 10.12 years) were included. For this study, participants attended 3 experimental sessions in the laboratory. Firstly, anthropometric measurements of the participants were taken, then RT and COD were familiarized respectively, and then 1RMs were determined. Then, the participants randomly completed the first and second sessions. In the first session, a 20-minute standard warm-up (Wup) was performed. After the participants rested passively for 3 minutes after the Wup, RT and COD tests were measured at 1-minute intervals, respectively. The results obtained were considered as the control condition. In the second session, participants rested passively for 3 minutes after performing the PAPE (80% of 1RM – 5 rep) protocol. After the rest period, participants performed RT and COD with a 1-minute interval, respectively. The data were analyzed separately for RT (visual, auditory, and mixed) and COD test results in terms of Wup and Wup+PAPE. At least 48 hours of rest was allowed between the first and second sessions to ensure that fatigue from the previous test session did not affect the results. Wilcoxon test results showed that PAPE significantly reduced visual RT (p < .005), mixed RT (p < 0.013), and COD (p < 0.001), but not auditory RT (p < 0.068). The findings showed that PAPE is an effective method to improve COD and RT performance in sports such as basketball, where success is achieved through fast-paced play. © 2025 Genç et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Item Determining Cognitive Performance in Athletes: A Systematic Review Focused on Methodology of Applying Cognitive Tests(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025) Manci E.; Herold F.; Özdalyan F.; Benli M.D.; Bozkurt Ç.; Gençtürk U.; Gebel A.; Güdücü Ç.; Günay E.; Bediz C.Ş.; Pontifex M.B.; Muller N.G.Although in recent years, there have been many studies to determine the cognitive performance of athletes, there are significant differences in the methodological approaches of these studies. Therefore, this methodology-focused systematic review aims to analyze the application methods of cognitive test studies with athletes and to provide standard recommendations for further studies. For this purpose, three electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus) were searched using predetermined keywords. As a result of the screening, 25 studies were included in the review. The result of this systematic review focused on the methodology of applying cognitive tests and observed considerable heterogeneity in methodological procedures applied in studies investigating the cognitive performance of athletes. The findings of this review highlight the need for the development of standardized procedures for the assessment of cognitive performance in future research while offering practical recommendations for researchers and coaches working in this area. © 2025 The Author(s). Scandinavian Journal of Psychology published by Scandinavian Psychological Associations and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.