Chapter 3: The Role of Attention, Arousal, and Visual Search in Movement Preparation

Attention demands

Cognitive resources required for task performance.

Factors influencing Attention Demands

environmental complexity, task complexity, number of cues, performer skill level

attentional focus

the directing of attention to specific characteristics in a performance environment, or to action-preparation activities

What should learners focus on

*Their own body's movements (internal attentional focus), or

*The effects of their movements (external focus)

External Focus

attention enhances learning and performance

Arousal

physiological and psychological activation that varies on a continuum from deep sleep to intense excitement

Task

as task increases in complexity lower levels of arousal are optimal

performer

the natural arousal level for one individual may be significantly higher than that of another

trait anxiety

an individual's propensity to perceive situations as threatening or non-threatening

broad external

used to assess the external environment/situation

a bicycle maneuvering in traffic

Narrow external

used to focus exclusively on one or two external cues to perform the motor response

Broad Internal

used to analyze and plan strategy or impending motor response

narrow internal

used to monitor cues and mentally rehearse an upcoming performance

practical implocations

don't assume learners will be able to disregard irrelevant information, avoid causing learners to shift attentional focus in wrong direction

Inverted U Principle

The principle that increased arousal improves performance only to a point, with degraded performance as arousal is increased further

cue utilization hypothesis

changes in attentional focus occur according to arousal levels

Zone of Optimal Functioning

the unique level of arousal which allows performer to have maximum concentration and effort

perceptual narrowing

developmental changes in which experience fine-tunes the perceptual system

how to increase arousal

increase rhythm/rate of breathing, listen to music, increase physical activity, stay motivated

how to decrease arousal

Encourage slow/controlled breathing, contract and relax various muscles, replace negative thoughts with constructive ones, visualize a positive outcome, focus on the performance rather than the outcome

Visual search strategies

1. quiet eye

2. targeting skills

3. interceptive skills

4. tactical skills

Quiet Eye

Sustained and steady eye gaze prior to an action or behaviour.

Targeting Skills

involve accurately propelling an object toward a target

interceptive skills

skills that involve the initiation of movement that coincide with the location of an object moving through space

Visual Search Training

- be cautious when examining claims of visual- training programs

-activities should be sport specific

-develop effective visual-search strategies, pattern recognition, anticipation, and decision-making skills