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Attentional focus effects in balance acrobats.
1Department of Kinesiology, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Las Vergas, NV 89154-3034, USA. gabriele.wulf@unlv.edu
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport
|September 27, 2008
Summary
For balance experts, adopting an external focus of attention did not improve performance. Optimal motor skill automaticity and postural stability occurred when performers used their natural attentional focus.
Area of Science:
- Sport Science
- Motor Control
- Expert Performance
Background:
- External attentional focus generally enhances motor skill learning and performance compared to internal focus or no focus.
- The generalizability of this external focus effect to elite performers remains an area of investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether external attentional focus benefits top-level balance acrobats performing a balance task.
- To examine the effects of external, internal, and control attentional focus conditions on postural sway and movement adjustments in experts.
Main Methods:
- Balance acrobats performed a standing balance task on an unstable surface (rubber disk).
- Participants completed the task under three conditions: external focus (minimize disk movement), internal focus (minimize foot movement), and a control (no specific instructions).
Main Results:
- No significant differences in postural sway were observed across the three attentional focus conditions.
- The frequency of movement adjustments was significantly higher in the control condition compared to both external and internal focus conditions.
Conclusions:
- For elite balance performers, optimal movement automaticity and postural stability are achieved when allowed to utilize their natural attentional focus.
- The performance-enhancing benefits of external focus instructions may be limited in expert performers, suggesting a potential shift in optimal attentional strategies with expertise.
