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Developmental differences in the use of peripheral vision during catching performance.
1Department of Sport and Recreation Studies, Liverpool Polytechnic.
Journal of Motor Behavior
|March 1, 1988
Summary
As children develop catching skills, their reliance on peripheral vision decreases. Older children and adults better utilize proprioception, improving hand-eye coordination and reducing visual errors during catches.
Area of Science:
- Motor Control
- Developmental Psychology
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Peripheral vision's role in limb control during catching is debated, particularly concerning skill development.
- Previous research often relied on occlusion techniques, limiting understanding of functional visual fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate developmental differences in the functional visual field during catching.
- To examine peripheral vision's role in effector orientation without occlusion.
- To extend previous findings on peripheral vision to two-handed catching tasks.
Main Methods:
- Eighty male participants (ages 10, 12, 16, 20) performed two-handed catches.
- A peripheral visual signal was presented at different flight times (early, middle, late).
- Participants divided visual attention between the ball, hands, and peripheral cue.
Main Results:
- Significant developmental differences were observed in dividing visual attention.
- Peripheral visual processing improved with age, especially in the late flight segment.
- Catchers aged 12-15 showed reduced peripheral visual errors, indicating enhanced proprioceptive control.
Conclusions:
- The ability to allocate control to the articular proprioceptive system develops with age.
- Catchers aged 12-15 demonstrate a key developmental period for increasing proprioceptive control.
- Practice and experience may further enhance reliance on proprioception over visual cues.