The Effects of Uncertainty on Attention in Table-Tennis Players and Nonathletes

Abstract

Contingent-negative variation (CNV) is one class of measurement for attention, which is based on brain electrical activity. Unlike self-reported approaches that require conscious awareness, measurement of attention through this approach has the advantage of unveiling processes that typify skilled performance of elite athletes who are usually unaware of them. Thus, this study utilizes CNV to examine: (a) the effect of uncertainty on attention, and (b) differences between open-skilled athletes and nonathletes in attention under uncertain conditions. Twenty-two pre-elite tale-tennis players and 20 counterparts participated in this study. EEG activity was obtained with monopolar recordings using electrode caps at 30 electrode sites, referenced to linked earlobes. EOG activity was assessed with bipolar recording of two electrodes placed at the outer canthus ad supraorbitally to the dominant eye. Response-hand EMG was recorded with bipolarly arranged electrodes placed below both elbows. CNV was sampled at 500Hz with a 200 ms baseline before imperative stimuli. EEG data were cleaned for artifacts and averaged offline. Only CNV data were reported here. The results showed that firstly, CNV amplitude was higher in the high-uncertainty condition than low one. This finding indicated that regardless of athletic experience, attention or alertness for both groups was heightened in response to higher uncertainty conditions. Secondly, CNV amplitude of nonathletes was higher than athletes. This finding may indicate that nonathletes allocated more cortical resource than athletes in uncertainty conditions. Lower athletes attention may result from training-related adaptation. There is much uncertainty and unpredictability in open-skilled sports. Hence, athletes were used to uncertain environments. Moreover, study athletes were highly skilled table-tennis players whose skill level very likely has reached the automatic stage. According to the automatic-processing hypothesis, the more proficiency of skill ability, the less attention will be needed when performing tasks. In conclusion, higher attention was elicited when higher uncertainty was expected. Athletes reacted to uncertainty with lower attention when compared with nonathletes.