Through Virtual Reality (VR), PERiFORM explores whether targeted VR training can reshape the PPS and lead to measurable improvements in athletic performance, particularly in boxing and football goalkeeping.

The project is implemented by a multidisciplinary team from the University of Limassol, CYENS Centre of Excellence, and MentisVR, combining expertise in psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and immersive technology.

Using validated experimental protocols, the team aims to design and evaluate new VR-based training methods that could enhance reaction times, accuracy, and spatial awareness.

The project begins by exploring how different types of movement in immersive virtual environments can influence how individuals perceive the space around their body. The targeted training and assessment aims to identify the most effective approach for enhancing this spatial perception. Building on these findings, the next phase focuses on applying this knowledge in athletic contexts, using virtual reality to support and potentially improve sports performance. Enhancing the peripersonal space could strengthen sensorimotor integration and attention in athletic contexts, potentially benefiting performance and skill acquisition.

By linking the enhancement of peripersonal space to measurable improvements in athletic performance, PERiFORM aims to introduce new strategies in sports training and contribute insights into motor control and spatial awareness in both performance and rehabilitation contexts.