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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
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Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention
Published on: September 11, 2017
Internal versus external: oral-motor performance as a function of attentional focus
Skott E Freedman1, Edwin Maas, Michael P Caligiuri
1SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Language and Communicative Disorders, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-1518, USA. sfreedman@ucsd.edu
Summary
An external focus of attention improves motor control for both limb and oral-facial systems, enhancing accuracy and reducing variability in tasks like force control.
Area of Science:
- Motor Control
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Previous research indicates external focus enhances limb motor performance.
- Internal focus on body parts can hinder motor execution.
- Attentional focus plays a crucial role in skilled movements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if external focus benefits oral-facial motor control, similar to limb control.
- To test the hypothesis that attentional focus effects extend to the orofacial system.
- To compare internal versus external attentional focus in hand and tongue tasks.
Main Methods:
- Two groups of 23 participants performed hand and tongue impulse force control tasks.
- Participants were assigned either an internal or external focus of attention.
- Tasks involved exerting rapid pressure bursts to a target force (20% maximal strength).
Main Results:
- An external focus significantly improved performance in both hand and tongue tasks.
- External focus led to greater accuracy and less variability compared to internal focus.
- Findings align with previous limb motor performance studies.
Conclusions:
- Results support the effectiveness of external focus for orofacial motor control.
- Findings are discussed within the framework of constrained-action theory.
- Implications for speech motor learning and rehabilitation are suggested.
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