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Age differences in heart rate patterns during concentration in a precision sport: implications for attentional
1Department of Psychology, University of Umeå, Sweden.
Journal of Gerontology
|May 1, 1989
Summary
Older miniature golfers show performance decline under competitive stress, unlike younger players. This suggests age-related attentional changes impact motor skills during high-arousal events.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Performance in sports can be affected by age and arousal levels.
- Understanding age-related differences in motor control under stress is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how age influences motor performance and physiological responses during miniature golf under varying arousal conditions.
- To explore the relationship between attentional functioning, arousal, and performance in young versus older athletes.
Main Methods:
- Observing highly skilled young and older miniature golf players during training and competition.
- Measuring motor performance (shots taken), anxiety levels, and heart rate.
- Analyzing heart rate patterns (deceleration/acceleration) during concentration phases.
Main Results:
- Both age groups exhibited increased arousal from training to competition.
- Older players' motor performance deteriorated in competition, while younger players maintained performance.
- Younger players showed heart rate deceleration during concentration, increasing with competition; older players showed heart rate acceleration during training, decreasing with competition.
Conclusions:
- Older athletes' performance decline under competitive stress may stem from age-related attentional deficits.
- Physiological responses, specifically heart rate patterns during concentration, differ between age groups under stress.
- Attentional functioning appears to be a key factor mediating age-related differences in sports performance under competitive pressure.