Enhanced predictive saccade strategies and spatial prediction accuracy in first-person shooter-specialized players

Predictive gaze behavior is essential in fast-paced esport environments; however, the visuomotor and neural mechanisms supporting predictive saccades in competitive first-person shooter (FPS) players remain insufficiently understood. This study investigated whether FPS-specialized players exhibit enhanced predictive saccade strategies compared to individuals without competitive FPS experience.

Seventeen active gamers were assigned to either an FPS-specialized group (n = 6) or a non-FPS group (n = 11). Participants performed a target-arrival prediction task in which a parabolically moving target was occluded midway through its trajectory. They were instructed to fixate on the starting point, execute a predictive saccade toward the internally estimated arrival position, maintain fixation, and press a button at their judged arrival time. Position Error (PE) was derived from gaze and button-press data. Low-beta (12-16 Hz) electroencephalography (EEG) activity was extracted using the Hilbert transform and group differences were assessed using time-series statistics and cluster-based permutation testing.

The FPS-specialized group exhibited earlier emergence of predictive gaze shifts toward the anticipated arrival position and demonstrated substantially smaller spatial prediction errors, including reduced PE values. These behavioral advantages were accompanied by increased low-beta activity in right Brodmann area (BA) 7, left BA40, and left BA6-regions, associated with spatial prediction, visuomotor integration, and predictive motor planning.

These findings suggest that competitive FPS experience cultivates a coordinated visuomotor prediction system that supports earlier initiation and improved accuracy of predictive saccade behavior.