Multiple Object Tracking Performance Research Articles

BoostTrack: boosting the similarity measure and detection confidence for improved multiple object tracking

Handling unreliable detections and avoiding identity switches are crucial for the success of multiple object tracking (MOT). Ideally, MOT algorithm should use true positive detections only, work in real-time and produce no identity switches. To approach the described ideal solution, we present the BoostTrack, a simple yet effective tracing-by-detection MOT method that utilizes several lightweight plug and play additions to improve MOT performance. We design a detection-tracklet confidence score and use it to scale the similarity measure and implicitly favour high detection confidence and high tracklet confidence pairs in one-stage association. To reduce the ambiguity arising from using intersection over union (IoU), we propose a novel Mahalanobis distance and shape similarity additions to boost the overall similarity measure. To utilize low-detection score bounding boxes in one-stage association, we propose to boost the confidence scores of two groups of detections: the detections we assume to correspond to the existing tracked object, and the detections we assume to correspond to a previously undetected object. The proposed additions are orthogonal to the existing approaches, and we combine them with interpolation and camera motion compensation to achieve results comparable to the standard benchmark solutions while retaining real-time execution speed. When combined with appearance similarity, our method outperforms all standard benchmark solutions on MOT17 and MOT20 datasets. It ranks first among online methods in HOTA metric in the MOT Challenge on MOT17 and MOT20 test sets. We make our code available at https://github.com/vukasin-stanojevic/BoostTrack.

SMILEtrack: SiMIlarity LEarning for Occlusion-Aware Multiple Object Tracking

Despite recent progress in Multiple Object Tracking (MOT), several obstacles such as occlusions, similar objects, and complex scenes remain an open challenge. Meanwhile, a systematic study of the cost-performance tradeoff for the popular tracking-by-detection paradigm is still lacking. This paper introduces SMILEtrack, an innovative object tracker that effectively addresses these challenges by integrating an efficient object detector with a Siamese network-based Similarity Learning Module (SLM). The technical contributions of SMILETrack are twofold. First, we propose an SLM that calculates the appearance similarity between two objects, overcoming the limitations of feature descriptors in Separate Detection and Embedding (SDE) models. The SLM incorporates a Patch Self-Attention (PSA) block inspired by the vision Transformer, which generates reliable features for accurate similarity matching. Second, we develop a Similarity Matching Cascade (SMC) module with a novel GATE function for robust object matching across consecutive video frames, further enhancing MOT performance. Together, these innovations help SMILETrack achieve an improved trade-off between the cost (e.g., running speed) and performance (e.g., tracking accuracy) over several existing state-of-the-art benchmarks, including the popular BYTETrack method. SMILETrack outperforms BYTETrack by 0.4-0.8 MOTA and 2.1-2.2 HOTA points on MOT17 and MOT20 datasets. Code is available at http://github.com/pingyang1117/SMILEtrack_official.

Applying the multiple object juggling task to measure the attention of athletes: Evidence from female soccer.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the presentation of targets can affect the performance of multiple object tracking and whether the difference between female soccer players and female college students is regulated by the presentation of targets. We enlisted a group of 20 Chinese female soccer players and another group of 20 non-players to complete a multiple object juggling (MOJ) task. The mean age was 20.24 ± 1.61 years in the athletes group and 21.35 ± 1.93 years in the non-athletes group. Accuracy was analyzed to examine the disparity between soccer players and non-players, as well as the disparity between 3 presentation conditions for targets (fixed, added, and dynamic). Regarding the MOJ task, female soccer players did not outperform non-players (F = 1.84, 95% CI [-1.14 to 6.02], P = .27). The performance of tracking in fixed conditions was superior to that in added and dynamic conditions (MD = 10.33%, 95% CI [4.93 to 15.71], P < .001; MD = 9.82%, 95% CI [4.43 to 15.21], P < .001). The tracking accuracy of female soccer players was significantly higher than non-players in dynamic condition (F = 7.26, 95% CI [2.19 to 14.59], P = .01). According to the findings, experts who specialize in team sports tend to exhibit a greater attention advantage in areas that are pertinent to their field of expertise. For future studies, it will be necessary to employ MOT conditions that are more representative of sport-specific characteristics to strengthen the task ecological validity.

Peak occipital alpha frequency mediates the relationship between sporting expertise and multiple object tracking performance.

Multiple object tracking (MOT) is often used as a lab-based paradigm for investigating goal-driven attention as an indicator for "real-world" attention in tasks such as sport. When exploring MOT performance in the context of sporting expertise, we typically observe that individuals with sporting expertise outperform non-sporting individuals. There are a number of general explanations for performance differences such as cognitive transfer effects; however, the potential neurophysiological mechanisms explaining the relationship between sporting expertise and performance differences in MOT are not clear. Based on the role occipital alpha (posterior oscillations usually around 8-12Hz) has been shown to have in visuospatial attention, the aim of this study was to examine whether individual differences in occipitalpeak alpha frequency (PAF) mediate the relationship between sporting expertise and performance in two object tracking tasks: a standard MOT task and a visuomotor-controlled object tracking task (multiple object avoidance [MOA]). Using electroencephalography (EEG), participants, who either played sport competitively or did not, had their posterior PAF measured at rest (eyes closed) across a 2-min window. They completed the two tasks separately from the restingEEGmeasures. Those who engaged in sport performed better in the MOT and MOA tasks and had higher PAF. Higher PAF predicted superior MOT performance. The mediation analysis revealed that sporting individuals had significantly higher PAF, and this was in turn related to superior MOT performance. It is suggested that PAF is a possible neurophysiological mediating mechanism as to why sporting individuals have superior MOT performance. There was no evidence that PAF mediated the relationship between sporting expertise and visuomotor MOA performance. Explanations and implications are discussed, and unanswered questions are proposed.

Evaluating and modeling the effects of brightness on visual attention using multiple object tracking method

This article systematically evaluates and models how brightness affects performance in Multiple Object Tracking (MOT) within screen-based environments. MOT proficiency is essential across various fields, and comprehending the elements that impact MOT performance holds significance for occupational health and safety. While previous studies have scrutinized the influence of brightness on object recognition, its repercussions on MOT performance in screen-based environments remain comparatively less comprehended. This research aims to bridge this gap by delving into the distinct and combined impacts of brightness-related factors on MOT performance. Additionally, it seeks to construct a computational model that can forecast MOT performance across diverse brightness conditions. The outcomes of this study will offer valuable insights into core psychological processes, thereby steering the development of more efficient visual displays to enhance occupational health and safety. Our findings revealed a significant correlation between brightness levels and MOT performance, with optimal tracking observed at medium brightness levels. Additionally, complex object motion patterns were found to exacerbate the challenges of tracking in low brightness settings. These insights have direct implications for screen-based interfaces, suggesting the need for adaptive brightness settings based on the content's complexity and the user's task.

Association between sports expertise and visual attention in male and female soccer players.

Visual attention plays a crucial role in daily living and in sports, affecting an athlete's performance and thus, potentially, the outcome of a match. However, studies assessing the association between the level of sports expertise and visual attention have yielded mixed results. This study was conducted to examine whether visual attention could be developed with increased sports expertise, and whether visual attention differed between male athletes and female athletes. A total of 128 participants were included in this study: 64 first-level national soccer athletes recruited from college soccer teams (considered elite athletes; 32 men and 32 women with similar soccer performance requirements and training experience), and 64 physical education college students with limited soccer experience (considered novice athletes; 32 men and 32 women with matched soccer experience). To assess visual attention, we used a multiple object tracking (MOT) task with four targets among a total of 10 objects moving at a fixed speed of 10°/s in random directions across a computer monitor screen. Tracking accuracy on the MOT task was calculated for each participant as the proportion of correctly selected targets. A univariate analysis of variance was performed, with group (expert, novice) and sex (male, female) as independent variables, and tracking accuracy on the MOT task as the dependent variable to assess whether sports expertise or sex influenced visual attention. Simple effects tests followed by comparisons with Bonferroni corrections were used, and effect size calculations were performed using Cohen's f statistic. Tracking accuracy on the MOT task was significantly affected by sports expertise (F(1,124) = 91.732, p < 0.001, ηP2 = 0.425), with accuracy among expert soccer athletes superior to that among novice soccer athletes. Moreover, a statistically significant interaction between sports expertise and sex was detected (F(1,124) = 7.046, p = 0.009, η P2= 0.054). Better tracking performance was observed for male soccer players (mean [SD], 0.39 [0.12]) than for female soccer players (mean [SD], 0.27 [0.08]); p<0.01; d=1.17; r=0.51) but only in the novice group. No significant sex difference was detected in tracking performance between elite male soccer athletes (mean [SD], 0.51 [0.09]) and elite female soccer athletes (mean [SD], 0.49 [0.11]). These findings confirm previous results indicating that long-term extensive sports training develops visual attention as assessed by MOT performance and extend previous findings to include soccer athletes. The findings of a sex difference in visual attention among novice soccer players but not among elite soccer athletes who had similar performance requirements and training experience suggest that long-term extensive training may minimize the sex difference in visual attention.

Action matters! Target report technique affects interference between visually guided touch and multiple-object tracking

ABSTRACT When participants carry out concurrent tasks there can be overlap in action plans. This study shows the effects of action-plan overlap in a multiple-object tracking (MOT) task where participants tracked 1–4 targets while touching any items that changed colour during the item motion phase of tracking trial (either targets or distractors in MOT). We manipulated the way that participants reported MOT targets at the end of the trial. Participants (untimed) either reported targets by touching them with the index finger of their dominant hand (maximal overlap between target report and touching items that changed colour) or typed in letters corresponding to targets with their non-dominant hand (minimal overlap). Target report had no effect on single-task MOT performance. However, when participants had to touch items that changed colour during tracking, MOT was significantly worse when participants reported targets by typing them in rather than touching them and it also took participants longer to touch items that changed colour even though these colour changes preceded target report by 7–8 s. Nonetheless, target-report did not affect the performance discrepancy between the target- and distractor-touch conditions, which suggests performance differences between these two conditions reflect differences in attentional selection rather than action-plan overlap.

The Impact of Audio-Visual, Visual and Auditory Cues on Multiple Object Tracking Performance in Children with Autism.

Previous studies have documented differences in processing multisensory information by children with autism compared to typically developing children. Furthermore, children with autism have been found to track fewer multiple objects on a screen than those without autism, suggesting reduced attentional control. In the present study, we investigated whether children with autism (n = 33) and children without autism (n = 33) were able to track four target objects moving amongst four indistinguishable distractor objects while sensory cues were presented. During tracking, we presented various types of cues - auditory, visual, or audio-visual or no cues while target objects bounced off the inner boundary of a centralized circle. We found that children with autism tracked fewer targets than children without autism. Furthermore, children without autism showed improved tracking performance in the presence of visual cues, whereas children with autism did not benefit from sensory cues. Whereas multiple object tracking performance improved with increasing age in children without autism, especially when using audio-visual cues, children with autism did not show age-related improvement in tracking. These results are in line with the hypothesis that attention and the ability to integrate sensory cues during tracking are reduced in children with autism. Our findings could contribute valuable insights for designing interventions that incorporate multisensory information.

What Is the Role of Sustained Visual Attention in the Maintenance of Postural Control in Young Adults?

Dual tasks requiring sustained visual attention and upright stance are common, yet their impact on standing balance is not well understood. We investigated the role of visual attention in the maintenance of postural control, using the multiple-object tracking (MOT) task. Healthy young adults (n = 12) performed the MOT task at three object movement speeds while seated or standing. MOT performance was assessed using tracking capacity (k). Metrics calculated to assess mediolateral (ML) and anterior-posterior (AP) postural control included: maximum difference between CoM and CoP position (CoM-CoP Max), root mean square distance for center of pressure and center of mass position (CoP and CoM RMS distance), and correlation between CoM and CoP time series signals (CoM/CoP correlation). As predicted, k decreased significantly as object movement speed increased for both standing and seated conditions. Object movement speed also significantly affected AP CoM-CoP Max in seated conditions (p = .021) and AP CoM/CoP correlation for standing conditions (p = .002). The results demonstrate utility of the MOT task in understanding the role of visual attention in postural control, even though healthy young adults were able to compensate for the addition of a sustained visual attention task, with minimal deficits to postural control.

Biological motion and multiple object tracking performance develop similarly from childhood through early adolescence

The multiple object tracking (MOT) (Pylyshyn & Storm, 1988) and biological motion (Johansson, 1973) tasks are both used to assess the perception of and attention to motion. These abilities are essential to the dynamic real-world task of identifying and monitoring multiple moving stimuli in the environment. We examined cross-sectionally the developmental changes in dynamic visual attention using 3D versions of both the MOT task and a masked direction discrimination biological motion task among 42 children and adolescents aged 6–14 years. The concurrent examination of these two tasks also allowed for an initial assessment of the pattern of task performance improvements with age. Performance on both tasks was found to improve with age and the relationship between the two tasks did not differ as a function of age, suggesting that biological motion and MOT attentional abilities improve similarly across age.

Characterizing Attention Resource Capacity in Autism: A Multiple Object Tracking Study.

The extant literature aimed at characterizing attentional capability in autistics has presented inconsistent findings. This inconsistency and uncertainty may be the product of different theoretical and methodological approaches used to define attention in autism. In the current study, we investigate whether the allocation of attentional resources to task demands, and attention resource capacity, differs between autistics with no comorbid attention-deficit diagnosis (n = 55) and age-matched neurotypicals (n = 55). We compared differences in capacity and the allocation of resources by manipulating attentional load in a Multiple Object-Tracking (MOT) task, a robust, versatile, and ecological measure of selective, sustained, and distributed attention. While autistics demonstrated lower MOT performance, this difference disappeared when we accounted for fluid reasoning intelligence. Additionally, the similarity in the trend of MOT performance at increasing levels of attentional load between autistics and neurotypicals suggests no differences in the allocation of attentional resources to task demands. Taken together, our study suggests that higher-order cognitive abilities, such as intelligence, should be considered when characterizing attention across the autistic population in research. Similarly, our findings highlight the importance of considering cognitive competence when assessing attentional capabilities in autistic individuals, which could have significant implications for clinical diagnosis, treatment, and support.

Multiple object tracking based on quadratic graph matching

AbstractRecently, with the development of deep‐learning, the performance of multiple object tracking (MOT) algorithm based on deep neural networks has been greatly improved. However, it is still a difficult problem to successfully solve the tracking misalignment caused by occlusion and complex tracking scenes. Most of the work focusses on designing a sophisticated network, only little work focusses on data association. Actually, data association is very helpful in MOT. In this study, data association in tracking is taken as the main research task, and the authors introduce quadratic graph matching into MOT. Considering the objects in each frame as a graph, we can model the data association between two frames as a quadratic graph matching problem. And then it is transformed into a convex quadratic optimisation problem. Introducing high‐order structure features into the matching function effectively solves some tracking problems. The data association is designed into the tracking model as an overall solution. Experiments show that the proposed data association algorithm performs favourably against several state‐of‐the‐art data association methods and can be used in any tracking‐by‐detection method. Our code is publicly available from https://github.com/gjy0514/G_Model.

BGTracker: Cross-Task Bidirectional Guidance Strategy for Multiple Object Tracking

Recent works have shown that the joint-detection-and-embedding (JDE) paradigm has significantly enhanced the performance of multiple object tracking by simultaneously learning detection and re-identification features. These methods always utilize a weight-shared backbone network and two non-interactive branches for different tasks. This non-interactive multi-task learning strategy cannot make full use of geometric and semantic information between detection and re-identification tasks. And in the JDE paradigm, there exists a feature misalignment between detection and re-identification due to their different optimization directions. In this paper, BGTracker is proposed as a novel online tracking framework with a cross-task bidirectional guidance strategy between detection and re-identification. Firstly, we propose a Channel-based Decoupling module and Cross-direction Transformer to alleviate feature misalignment, which can obtain task-aligned embeddings and discriminative representations at the feature level. Then, we propose the bidirectional guidance strategy to link the two tasks by the prediction map's statistical information. In this strategy, two designed feature transformations are employed to utilize the advantages of each task for complementing each other at the task level. Finally, extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed BGTracker outperforms various existing methods on the MOTChallenge benchmarks.

Distinctive patterns of Multiple Object-Tracking performance trajectories in youth with deficits in attention, learning, and intelligence

There is a significant overlap in symptomology between individuals with deficits in attention and learning, which is explained by the co-dependent dynamic between the two cognitive constructs. Within this dynamic, attentional resources are allocated to salient stimuli while learning mechanisms distinguish relevant from irrelevant information. Moreover, individuals with deficits in higher-order cognition (i.e., intelligence) can demonstrate difficulties in attention and learning. The Multiple Object-Tracking (MOT) task is a sensitive and versatile measure of attention that has characterized individual differences in attention as a function of higher-order cognition. Exploiting the traditional MOT task’s ability to characterize the allocation of attentional resources to task demands, the current study compared learning exhibited on an attention-based task across neurodevelopmental conditions defined by deficits in attention (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; ADHD), learning (specific learning disorder; SLD), and intelligence (intellectual developmental disorder; IDD). Children and adolescents (N = 101) completed 15 sessions on a Multiple Object-Tracking (MOT) task where performance trajectories were analyzed using latent growth curve modeling and conditioned by the presence of ADHD, SLD, or IDD while controlling for performance on a separate measure of attention, age, and sex. The sample, characterized by below-average IQ and problematic levels of attention, exhibited an effect of learning on MOT. However, individuals with an IDD diagnosis demonstrated decreased baseline MOT capability while ADHD and SLD profiles exhibited decreased slopes, relative to other neurodevelopmental conditions. Taken together, the results demonstrate distinct linear performance trajectories between neurodevelopmental conditions defined by deficits in attention, learning, and intelligence. The current study provides additional evidence to repurpose the traditional MOT task as a descriptor of attention and discusses alternative uses for the paradigm. Overall, these results suggest an eclectic approach that considers attention, learning, and higher-order cognition when diagnosing ADHD, SLD, or IDD.

Multiple Object Tracking in Robotic Applications: Trends and Challenges

The recent advancement in autonomous robotics is directed toward designing a reliable system that can detect and track multiple objects in the surrounding environment for navigation and guidance purposes. This paper aims to survey the recent development in this area and present the latest trends that tackle the challenges of multiple object tracking, such as heavy occlusion, dynamic background, and illumination changes. Our research includes Multiple Object Tracking (MOT) methods incorporating the multiple inputs that can be perceived from sensors such as cameras and Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR). In addition, a summary of the tracking techniques, such as data association and occlusion handling, is detailed to define the general framework that the literature employs. We also provide an overview of the metrics and the most common benchmark datasets, including Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and Toyota Technological Institute (KITTI), MOTChallenges, and University at Albany DEtection and TRACking (UA-DETRAC), that are used to train and evaluate the performance of MOT. At the end of this paper, we discuss the results gathered from the articles that introduced the methods. Based on our analysis, deep learning has introduced significant value to the MOT techniques in recent research, resulting in high accuracy while maintaining real-time processing.

Examining the ability to track multiple moving targets as a function of postural stability: a comparison between team sports players and sedentary individuals.

BackgroundThe ability to track multiple objects plays a key role in team ball sports actions. However, there is a lack of research focused on identifying multiple object tracking (MOT) performance under rapid, dynamic and ecologically valid conditions. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effects of manipulating postural stability on MOT performance.MethodsNineteen team sports players (soccer, basketball, handball) and sixteen sedentary individuals performed the MOT task under three levels of postural stability (high, medium, and low). For the MOT task, participants had to track three out of eight balls for 10 s, and the object speed was adjusted following a staircase procedure. For postural stability manipulation, participants performed three identical protocols (randomized order) of the MOT task while standing on an unstable platform, using the training module of the Biodex Balance System SD at levels 12 (high-stability), eight (medium-stability), and four (low-stability).ResultsWe found that the ability to track moving targets is dependent on the balance stability conditions (F2,66 = 8.7, p < 0.001, η² = 0.09), with the disturbance of postural stability having a negative effect on MOT performance. Moreover, when compared to sedentary individuals, team sports players showed better MOT scores for the high-stability and the medium-stability conditions (corrected p-value = 0.008, Cohen’s d = 0.96 and corrected p-value = 0.009, Cohen’s d = 0.94; respectively) whereas no differences were observed for the more unstable conditions (low-stability) between-groups.ConclusionsThe ability to track moving targets is sensitive to the level of postural stability, with the disturbance of balance having a negative effect on MOT performance. Our results suggest that expertise in team sports training is transferred to non-specific sport domains, as shown by the better performance exhibited by team sports players in comparison to sedentary individuals. This study provides novel insights into the link between individual’s ability to track multiple moving objects and postural control in team sports players and sedentary individuals.

Relationship between dynamic visual acuity and multiple object tracking performance.

We assessed the association between measures of dynamic visual acuity and a multiple object tracking task in physically active young adults. Ninety-four young adults performed the dynamic visual acuity and multiple object tracking tasks. Dynamic visual acuity was measured for horizontal and random walk motion paths at four target speeds (5, 10, 20, and 30°/s). For the multiple object tracking task, participants had to track three out of eight balls for 10 s, and the object speed was adjusted by a staircase procedure. We found that multiple object tracking performance was associated with better identification of horizontally and randomly moving targets in the dynamic visual acuity test (p < .001, r = -.35 [-.52, -.16]; and p < .001, r = -.52 [-.65, -.35]; respectively). This effect was consistent across all target speeds (all p-values<0.05). However, static visual acuity did not correlate with any measure of dynamic visual acuity or multiple object tracking (p > 0.170 in all cases). This study provides novel insights into the association between the ability to identify horizontally and randomly moving targets and track multiple objects. Future studies are needed to determine the potential utility of dynamic visual acuity for talent identification and predicting sports performance in real-game situations.

0124 Dextroamphetamine biases the brain towards enhanced spatial selective attention compared over working memory

Abstract Introduction There is a growing trend in the non-medical use of prescription psychostimulant (PStim) in healthy adults One of the main reasons of increased usage of PStim is due to their perceived benefits on the cognitive capacity. However, evidences from empirical studies on healthy adults point to an inconclusive answer. There are various factors which could have contributed to these overall mixed findings. These factors range from differences in drug dosages, individual baseline variability and use of different tasks. However, one of the important factors that previous studies have not considered is the presence possible selective bias of PStim towards a specific cognitive domain over others which may lead to its selective enhancement at the cost of others’ degradation. Methods To study this, we carried out a double blind, placebo-controlled study, with repeated measures design to investigate the differential influence of a stimulant drug (DEX vs PBO) on the cognitive skills of working memory (WM) and spatial selective attentive in the form multiple object tracking (MOT) across a period of a day. We compared the change in the performance of WM and MOT in DEX vs PBO conditions at 1) pre-drug baseline, 2) 75 minutes post-drug (peak concentration), 3) 12 hours post-drug intake (washout). Results First, we found that DEX did not have any overall significant effect on WM performance across a period of day compared to the placebo condition. We also found that MOT performance was rescued by DEX, unlike the placebo condition in which the MOT performance degraded over different testing periods across a wake day period. Importantly, we found that during the peak concentration of DEX in the body MOT performance was significantly superior to that of the WM performance. This superiority of MOT over WM was not present before the drug administration (baseline) and also returned to a level similar to baseline after a gap of 12hours. Conclusion Overall, our study findings suggest that DEX has a favorable bias towards MOT compared to WM and selectively enhances its performance when the brain is required to support both of these two cognitive domains concurrently. Support (If Any)  

Perceptual-cognitive performance of youth soccer players in a 360°-environment – Differences between age groups and performance levels

IntroductionAn important requirement for soccer players is the accurate and rapid processing of dynamic and complex visual scenes. Therefore, in high-level youth soccer the players’ perceptual-cognitive skills are highly relevant from a scientific and practical point of view. The aim of the present study was to investigate differences in perceptual-cognitive performance between youth soccer players of different age groups and soccer performance levels in a dynamic 360°-environment. MethodsIn a sample of 292 elite and sub-elite youth soccer players from the age groups U12–U23, perceptual-cognitive skills were assessed using a 360°-multiple object tracking task. An 8 × 2 (age group x performance level) analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to examine the effects of age group and soccer performance level on performance in the task. ResultsThe analyses revealed a significant main effect of age group. Post hoc analyses showed that youth players belonging to the older age groups (U16, U17, U19, and U23) performed significantly better in the 360°-multiple object tracking task than players of the youngest age group (U12). Yet no significant age-related differences could be found from age group U16 on. Furthermore, there was a significant effect of soccer performance level on the 360°-multiple object tracking performance in favor of the elite players. Significant differences between elite and sub-elite players within the same age group were only present in the highest age groups U19 and U23. ConclusionsThe results suggest that in a dynamic 360°-environment highly talented youth soccer players show better perceptual-cognitive performance with increasing age. Furthermore, elite youth players exhibit distinctive perceptual-cognitive abilities particularly at the highest age groups. These findings provide interesting implications for science and practice regarding the perceptual-cognitive skills of talented soccer players and their role in talent development.

The Multiple Object Avoidance (MOA) task measures attention for action: Evidence from driving and sport

Performance in everyday tasks, such as driving and sport, requires allocation of attention to task-relevant information and the ability to inhibit task-irrelevant information. Yet there are individual differences in this attentional function ability. This research investigates a novel task for measuring attention for action, called the Multiple Object Avoidance task (MOA), in its relation to the everyday tasks of driving and sport. The aim in Study 1 was to explore the efficacy of the MOA task to predict simulated driving behaviour and hazard perception. Whilst also investigating its test–retest reliability and how it correlates to self-report driving measures. We found that superior performance in the MOA task predicted simulated driving performance in complex environments and was superior at predicting performance compared to the Useful Field of View task. We found a moderate test–retest reliability and a correlation between the attentional lapses subscale of the Driving Behaviour Questionnaire. Study 2 investigated the discriminative power of the MOA in sport by exploring performance differences in those that do and do not play sports. We also investigated if the MOA shared attentional elements with other measures of visual attention commonly attributed to sporting expertise: Multiple Object Tracking (MOT) and cognitive processing speed. We found that those that played sports exhibited superior MOA performance and found a positive relationship between MOA performance and Multiple Object Tracking performance and cognitive processing speed. Collectively, this research highlights the utility of the MOA when investigating visual attention in everyday contexts.