## 4 Discussion
### Gaze Behaviors and Shooting Performance  
Our study found a significant positive correlation between QE duration and shooting accuracy, as confirmed through the meta-analysis. These findings align with previous research [5, 7, 8], which highlights the stabilizing effect of extended QE durations on performance, particularly under high-pressure conditions [6, 21, 39]. For instance, elite penalty takers in soccer have been shown to maintain prolonged QE on target areas (e.g., goal-keeper movements or specific goal corners), enhancing their success rates under pressure ([PERSON] & [PERSON], 2011) [47]. The prolonged QE provides athletes with additional time to process critical visual information and optimize the planning of movements [21, 39]. This mechanism allows athletes to refine the execution of movements through enhanced cognitive readiness and suppression of distractions [5, 7]. Notably, our findings extend prior work by systematically quantifying the magnitude of this relationship across diverse competitive levels--a dimension under-explored in earlier reviews [4].  
Similarly, final fixation duration (FFD) showed a positive, albeit weaker, association with shooting accuracy. This finding mirrors research in soccer, where strikers exhibit longer FFDs on goalkeepers or target zones to optimize their shot precision [48]. During the final fixation phase, athletes integrate spatial and kinematic information (e.g., basket distance, body positioning) to calibrate their motor output. Research has demonstrated that athletes' eye movements during the final phase of shooting involve the rapid integration of spatial and motion-related information, such as the distance and angle of the basket and their body positioning [5, 9, 12, 49]. As such, this ability is comparable to the trajectory prediction demands observed in precision sports like darts, where athletes rely on visual regulation to anticipate the path of the dart [15, 50]. Notably, this adaptability is context-dependent: free throws demand stable visual focus to regulate force consistency [9], whereas jump shots require dynamic adjustments to account for vertical displacement and defensive interference [10].  
In contrast, fixation duration (FD) demonstrated no significant correlation with shooting accuracy, suggesting that its role is more supportive in facilitating broader visual scanning rather than directly enhancing precision [3, 45]. For example, during free throws, FD might allow players to evaluate potential passing or shooting paths, rather than solely focusing on the basket [40]. This aligns with findings in soccer and tennis, where FD is distributed across multiple cues (e.g., opponent positioning, ball spin) to inform tactical decisions, rather than focusing on a single target [51, 52]. Meanwhile, the observed high heterogeneity in FD could stem from methodological differences, such as variations in fixation tracking device calibration or the inclusion/exclusion of saccadic fixations in FD definitions [7]. This variability may further be influenced by factors such as shot type (free throw vs. jump shot) and defensive scenarios, complicating direct comparisons [40, 42]. For example, FD during free throws often reflects deliberate, uninterrupted visual focus [3], whereas FD during dynamic jump shots requires rapid adaptation to changing conditions and stimuli [13, 42]. Future studies should standardize FD measurement protocols and account for contextual variables in order to clarify its role in shooting performance.