The temporal integration of information during anticipation

Abstract

ObjectivesWhen performing actions under severe time pressure, the ability to anticipate is vital to performance. Skilled anticipation is underpinned by the use of both kinematic cues and contextual information, yet there have been few published reports examining how, and when, these two sources interact during anticipation. DesignThis study employed a mixed experimental design. The between participants factor was skill level (skilled vs less-skilled) and the repeated measures factor was occlusion point (pre-run, mid-run, pre-release, post-release). MethodAltogether, 18 skilled and 18 less-skilled cricket batters anticipated deliveries from bowlers in a video-based simulation task where the footage was occluded at four-time points relative to ball release. Participants rated the importance of different sources of information when making their judgements at each occlusion point. ResultsSkilled batters anticipated the deliveries significantly more accurately than the less-skilled group at all occlusion points (p < .05). The skilled group judged the use of both contextual information and visual information to be more important when anticipating compared to the less-skilled group. Kinematic cues were only considered important to anticipation in the final moments of the bowling sequence (i.e., immediately prior to ball release), whereas contextual information was used throughout the action, albeit mostly by the skilled group. ConclusionsFindings enhance our understanding of the processes underpinning anticipation and present implications for the design of training programmes to improve anticipation.