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Pushing the Boundaries

Peripersonal Space as a Tool
for Improving Athletic Performance

PERiFORM

An innovative project that uses Virtual Reality to improve how athletes perceive and control the space around them, aiming to better performance in boxing & goalkeeping.

Funded by Cyprus's Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF).

Grant No: POST-DOC/0524/0011 – RESTART 2016–2020

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About the project

Pushing boundaries:
Peripersonal space as a tool to improve sports performance

Funded by the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) under the RESTART 2016–2020 framework (POST-DOC/0524/0011), PERiFORM is a research project investigating how athletes perceive and interact with the space immediately surrounding their bodies — known as peripersonal space (PPS). This space plays a key role in planning movements, reacting to stimuli, and performing under pressure.

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.

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The project is co-funded by the EU within the framework of the Cohesion Policy Programme “THALIA 2021-2027”. [Pr. no. POST-DOC/0524/0011]. The content reflects the views of the author(s) only. The European Commission and the Managing Authority of THALIA 2021–2027 cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Activities of the project

To be announced

Partners or Collaborating Institutions

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Project Coordinator: University of Limassol

The University of Limassol (UoL) coordinates the PERiFORM project, overseeing scientific supervision, experiment design, and dissemination. The UoL research team has strong expertise in cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and educational VR applications.

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CYENS Centre of Excellence

CYENS is one of Cyprus’s leading research and innovation institutions in interactive technologies, VR/AR systems, and human perception.  CYENS combines expertise from various scientific fields to explore new frontiers in digital interaction, immersive media, and cognitive systems.

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MentisVR Ltd

MentisVR is an innovative Cypriot company specializing in developing Virtual Reality applications for education, rehabilitation, and performance enhancement. MentisVR designs customized VR solutions aimed at maximizing user engagement.

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project team

Meet the PERiFORM team

An interdisciplinary team of researchers, comprising technicians and experts from both the academic and private sectors, implements PERiFORM.

The team has experience in psychology, cognitive neuroscience, interactive technologies, and sports performance.

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Dr. Christodoula Gavriel

Principal Investigator – University of Limassol
Dr. Christodoula Gavriel is a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Limassol, specializing in spatial perception, human movement, and the use of virtual reality for cognitive research. She holds a PhD from the University of Cyprus and has extensive experience in immersive behavioral experiments and coordinating interdisciplinary projects. As Principal Investigator, she is responsible for the overall management of the PERiFORM project, designing the experiments, and disseminating the results.
Kyriaki Mikellidou

Dr. Kyriaki Mikellidou

Assistant Professor – University of Limassol
Dr. Kyriaki Mikellidou is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Quantitative Research Methods at the University of Limassol, specializing in visual perception and cognition in both healthy and clinical populations using virtual reality, psychophysics, and neuroimaging techniques. She holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of York and is a recipient of the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship. Her research has been published in high-impact journals and presented internationally, and she currently serves as Editor for Perception and i-Perception.
Prof. Marios Avraamides

Prof. Marios Avraamides

Professor of Cognitive Psychology – CYENS Centre of Excellence
Prof. Marios Avraamides is a Professor of Cognitive Psychology at the University of Cyprus and Co-Leader of the Neo-Move research group at the CYENS Centre of Excellence. He holds a PhD in Cognitive Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University. He has conducted research at institutions including the University of California, Santa Barbara, the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, and the University of Oxford. His work combines basic and applied research on attention, memory, and spatial cognition, using tools such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, electroencephalography, and physiological recordings.
Dr. Kleanthis Neocleous

Dr. Kleanthis Neocleous

Co-Founder & Technical Director – MentisVR Ltd
Dr. Kleanthis Neokleous holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Cyprus and has a multidisciplinary background spanning virtual reality, cognitive psychology, and intelligent systems. He is Co-founder and CTO of MentisVR Ltd and has coordinated numerous national and EU-funded research projects. He also heads the ITICA research group at the CYENS Centre of Excellence, focusing on immersive technologies and creative applications.

News

periform newscovers 01

Exploring How Movement Reshapes Peripersonal Space in Virtual Reality: First PERiFORM Experiment Completed

30/01/2026
We have successfully completed the first experiment of the PERiFORM project, marking a significant milestone for Work Package 3 (WP3): ...
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periform newscover2rev

Call for Participants: Boxing Meets Virtual Reality

16/01/2026
Join the Study! Are you curious, motivated, and ready to step into the virtual ring? If yes, we want you! ...
Read More
periform with european research nights newscover

PERiFORM at the European Researchers’ Night 2025

21/10/2025
“Mind and Body as One” – University of Limassol, Department of Psychology The Department of Psychology at the University of ...
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A woman engaging with virtual reality technology using a VR headset for an immersive experience.

Participate in Groundbreaking VR Research

10/06/2025
Are you aged 18–40 and interested in virtual reality, human perception, or sports performance? We are launching the first experiment ...
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periform reflect festival 2025 (6)

PERiFORM at Reflect Festival 2025

04/06/2025
Bringing VR, Human Performance, and Innovation Together in Cyprus Earlier this month, Dr. Christodoula Gavriel, the principal investigator of the ...
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a young sportsman in blue boxing gloves trains on a boxing bag

Unlocking Athletic Potential through Virtual Reality – The PERiFORM Project Begins!

04/06/2025
We are excited to launch PERiFORM (Grand Agreement no: POST-DOC/0524/0011)— an innovative research project funded by the Cyprus Research and ...
Read More

Do you have questions about the PERiFORM project ?

are you interested in learning more, or even participating in the study ?

Contact the PERiFORM team for questions about the project, participation, or potential collaborations.

Informed Consent Form

Dear Participant,

You are invited to participate in a survey as part of the DiFiCy – Digital Transformation and FinTech: Shaping Cyprus’s Economy research project which is implemented by the University of Limassol, PwC Cyprus and Unity Growth Limited.

The project is co-funded by the European Union within the framework of the Cohesion Policy Programme “THALIA 2021-2027” through the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) in Cyprus [Pr. number: EXCELLENCE/0524/0568].

The study has been approved by the National Bioethics Committee of Cyprus (Approval no.: EEBK EΠ 2025.01.19 )

This project explores digital transformation and FinTech adoption in Cyprus, with a particular focus on SMEs and the broader business ecosystem. It uses a mixed-methods research design, combining survey data with interviews and case study evidence to generate evidence-based insights for policymakers and businesses.

Before deciding whether to participate, please read the following information carefully.

Purpose of Participation

The purpose of this research is to better understand the drivers, challenges, and impacts of digital transformation and FinTech adoption in Cyprus. The findings aim to support evidence-based policymaking, strengthen business practices, and contribute to innovation and economic development.

Your participation involves the following:

Completion of this survey, which takes approximately 15 minutes.

Invitation to take part in an optional interview.

Contribution to a case study or discussion session at a later stage.

Your participation is entirely voluntary, and you are free to decline or withdraw at any time without any consequences.

If you wish to withdraw from the study after submitting your responses, you may do so by contacting the Project Coordinator.

Data Confidentiality and Usage

All data collected will be handled in strict accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Cyprus Data Protection Law (125(I)/2018).

Your data will be treated confidentially, pseudonymised and anonymised, and no personally identifiable information will be disclosed. Data will be securely stored and accessed only by authorised members of the research team. In some cases, qualitative data may be processed using machine learning techniques, such as keyword identification or pattern detection, strictly to support analysis; however, all interpretation and conclusions will be made by the researchers.

Aggregated and anonymised findings derived from the data (e.g., statistical summaries, graphs, and thematic insights) may be used for dissemination activities, including scientific publications, policy reports, infographics, and training materials. These outputs will not contain any information that could directly or indirectly identify participants or their organisations.

Anonymised data may be shared publicly after a 24-month embargo period, while raw or sensitive data will not be publicly available. Access to raw or sensitive data will be granted only upon justified request and consortium approval.

Your participation in this study does not involve any risks.

On the contrary, your contribution may help improve digital and FinTech policies, support SME development and innovation strategies, and enhance the overall business environment in Cyprus.

Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, withdraw requests or complaints, please contact the Project Coordinator, Dr. Snezana Eminidou. Please include “DiFiCy Survey” in the subject line.

Email: snezana@uol.ac.cy

Phone number: +357 22462228

Partnership:

Thank you for your valuable contribution to this research.

The project is co-funded by the EU within the framework of the Cohesion Policy Programme “THALIA 2021-2027” through the Research and Innovation Foundation. [Pr. no. EXCELLENCE/0524/0568]. The content reflects the views of the author(s) only. The European Commission and the Managing Authority of THALIA 2021–2027 cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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