Looking to Learn Better - Training of Perception-Specific Focus of Attention Influences Quiet Eye Duration but Not Throwing Accuracy in Darts.

Judith Neugebauer,Joseph Baker,Jörg Schorer

doi:10.3389/fspor.2020.00079

Judith Neugebauer, Joseph Baker + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2020.00079

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Abstract

Investigations of the association of focus of attention and quiet eye duration have shown mixed results. It is possible that when focusing on visuo-motor learning a more sensitive category system of instructions might be useful. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction of focus of attention and quiet eye duration in darts. In addition to locus-directed foci (external, internal), perception-directed (visual, kinesthetic) foci of attention were considered. Participants were divided into four groups and had to perform a pre- and post-test with a 1-week training intervention in between. Throwing accuracy (TA) and quiet eye duration (QED) were measured using the SMI eye tracking glasses. An analysis of covariance (2x2) showed no significant group differences or interactions for TA. For QED, an analysis of variance (2x2x2) showed quiet eye duration was increased with the intervention but there were significant differences between the tests. A significant interaction of test and perception-directed focus was observed. Visually instructed groups increased QED whereas the kinesthetic group decreased the QED, suggesting perceptual and motor learning may be asynchronous. One possible explanation for the trends might be the common-coding theory of perception and action.

Highlights

Sport research has shown that perceptual and motor performance are strongly linked (Janelle et al, 2000; Martell and Vickers, 2004; Vickers and Williams, 2007; Lohse et al, 2010; Wulf, 2013)
The results indicated internal focus was beneficial for extending quiet eye durations, but the external focus resulted in better throwing accuracy
The first aim of this study was to replicate findings concerning the trainability of quiet eye duration (Adolphe et al, 1997; Harle and Vickers, 2001; Causer et al, 2011; Vine et al, 2011, 2014) and the association of this duration with motor performance in darts (Vickers et al, 2000)

Summary

Introduction

Sport research has shown that perceptual and motor performance are strongly linked (Janelle et al, 2000; Martell and Vickers, 2004; Vickers and Williams, 2007; Lohse et al, 2010; Wulf, 2013). The “quiet eye” is a perceptual phenomenon that considers the influence of final fixation duration on motor learning and performance processes (for an overview, Vickers, 2007; Lebeau et al, 2016). A performer’s “focus of attention” in the context of motor learning and motor performance has received considerable attention in the last two decades (for a review, Wulf, 2013). The main objective of the present study was to gain deeper insight into the relationship between focus of attention and quiet eye, the interdependency of motor and perceptual learning, by considering the influence of different instructions on quiet eye duration and motor performance in a learning task

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