CROSSED LATERALITY AND PERFORMANCE IN FENCING: AN ANALYSIS OF OCULAR DOMINANCE, HANDEDNESS, AND REACTION TIMES IN FENCERS

Abstract

Fencing is a sport that demands precise visuomotor coordination, rapid reaction times, and a high level of perceptual-cognitive ability. In this context, laterality—understood as the functional preference for one side of the body—may play a critical role in athletic performance. While the influence of handedness has been widely studied, the contribution of ocular dominance, and particularly its interaction with handedness (i.e., crossed or uncrossed laterality), has received limited attention in this sport. This study evaluated 97 fencers of varying competitive levels and weapon types (épée, foil, and sabre) to examine the relationship between their laterality profiles (dominant eye and hand) and reaction times in tasks of increasing complexity. Tests included simple reaction, choice reaction, Go/No-Go, and decision-making tasks, with response times measured precisely in milliseconds. Additionally, the analysis examined the distribution of laterality profiles across competition levels and weapon specializations. Results indicated that fencers with crossed laterality (dominant eye and hand on opposite sides) exhibited significantly faster reaction times in complex tasks, particularly those involving decision- making and motor execution. Furthermore, this profile was more prevalent among national and international-level athletes, especially in foil and sabre disciplines. In contrast, uncrossed laterality was more common among épée fencers and those at regional or amateur levels. These findings suggest that crossed laterality may represent an optimal perceptual-motor profile in fencing, potentially enhancing sensorimotor integration and reducing cerebral processing time. This knowledge may be crucial for optimizing training programs, enhancing talent identification, and developing personalized strategies for achieving high performance.