About this Research Topic
With the emergence of Esports as a competitive and professional field, there is a growing interest in understanding the physiological demands and responses of gamers during extended periods of gameplay. Exercise Physiology offers valuable insights into the effects of physical activity on the body and its systems, making it a crucial area of study for Esports athletes. In this topic, exercise is understood as any practice that involves movement (gross or fine motorics) as a significant contributor to the task performance. This means that besides sport and health oriented physical activities, we include esports, virtual reality (VR), sports simulators, etc. Network Physiology studies how different physiological systems interact and how these network interactions lead to different health/performance states. The Network Physiology framework identifies novel network-based markers that can provide relevant information about physiological interactions and patterns of coordination among multiple systems.
This Research Topic aims to apply Network Physiology and Complex Systems Science principles and approaches to the study of Esports athletes. By uncovering fundamental laws of interactions and coordination among diverse physiological systems and examining their responses during gameplay, we can gain a better understanding of the physical demands placed on eSports athletes, potential risk factors, and ways to enhance performance.
We welcome submissions of original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and opinion pieces that address fundamental questions, including:
• How do physiological systems interact during Esports gameplay? Are patterns of physiological responses game- or player-specific?
• What is the relationship between psychophysiological states and physiological responses during Esports? How do these states affect player performance and health?
• Can physiological measures predict performance or identify health risks in Esports players? What are the methodological and ethical considerations in using these measures for monitoring?
• How can we apply network physiology research in Esports? Which are the challenges and opportunities for implementation? What is the role of interdisciplinary collaborations in facilitating translation?
With regards to methodology, we encourage authors to:
• Focus on the bi- or multivariate intra-individual time series analysis, and
• Proceed from individual to group generalization (i,e, from individual to common interaction patterns), not the opposite.
This Research Topic aims to apply Network Physiology and Complex Systems Science principles and approaches to the study of Esports athletes. By uncovering fundamental laws of interactions and coordination among diverse physiological systems and examining their responses during gameplay, we can gain a better understanding of the physical demands placed on eSports athletes, potential risk factors, and ways to enhance performance.
We welcome submissions of original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and opinion pieces that address fundamental questions, including:
• How do physiological systems interact during Esports gameplay? Are patterns of physiological responses game- or player-specific?
• What is the relationship between psychophysiological states and physiological responses during Esports? How do these states affect player performance and health?
• Can physiological measures predict performance or identify health risks in Esports players? What are the methodological and ethical considerations in using these measures for monitoring?
• How can we apply network physiology research in Esports? Which are the challenges and opportunities for implementation? What is the role of interdisciplinary collaborations in facilitating translation?
With regards to methodology, we encourage authors to:
• Focus on the bi- or multivariate intra-individual time series analysis, and
• Proceed from individual to group generalization (i,e, from individual to common interaction patterns), not the opposite.
Keywords: Network Physiology, eSports, gaming, health, performance, exercise physiology, physiological systems, psychophysiological state
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
