https://doi.org/10.5812/asjsm.34491

Comparison of Blue-Yellow Opponent Color Contrast Sensitivity Function between Female Badminton Players and Non-athletes

authors:

avatar Ebrahim Jafarzadehpur 2 , * , avatar Ali Mirzajani 1 , avatar Maryam Hatami 1 , avatar Razieh Musavian 1 , avatar Ebrahim Abbasi 3

Noor Ophthalmology Research Center, Tehran, Iran
Optometry Department, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
Physical Education Organization, Tehran, Iran
Asian Journal of Sports Medicine: Vol.4, issue 2; 107-113
published online: December 19, 2012
article type: Research Article
received: July 9, 2012
accepted: November 27, 2012

how to cite: Jafarzadehpur E, Mirzajani A, Hatami M, Musavian R, Abbasi E. Comparison of Blue-Yellow Opponent Color Contrast Sensitivity Function between Female Badminton Players and Non-athletes. Asian J Sports Med. 2013;4(2):34491. https://doi.org/10.5812/asjsm.34491.

Abstract

Purpose:

To compare the chromatic contrast sensitivity function (CSF) for the blue-yellow opponent channel (BYOC) between female badminton players and non-athlete controls.

Methods:

We recruited 40 young females (18-25 years old) who played badminton for at least 5 consecutive years as the test group, and 30 age-matched female controls who had no history of regular physical activity. The Pattern Generator system was used to test the CSF for the BYOC which was performed at three spatial frequencies (SFs) of 2 cycles per degree (cpd), 5 cpd, and 25 cpd.

Results:

Comparison of BYOC thresholds showed significantly better results in the test group for all three SFs (P<0.001). Band pass shift (better CSF in the middle SF) was seen in the test group. The control group had low pass (better CSF in the low SF). Ocular motility (heterophoria, fusional convergence and divergence at far and near distances, and near point of convergence) was better in the test group, but the inter-group difference was not significant.

Conclusions:

The BYOC threshold results for badminton players indicated a better visual performance which may be a result of enhanced performance of the parallel processing of the parvocellular and magnocellular systems. This may be inherent and/or acquired in badminton players. In addition, badminton players appear to have developed sensory-motor programmed activities. Testing the CSF for BYOC may be useful for athlete selection in different levels and/or used as a criterion for screening players in the field of badminton.

Full Text

Full text is available in PDF