Perceptual and Motor Skills最新文献

PurposeThis study investigated the effects of moderate (≤5%) and high (>5%) weight loss (WL) on physiological recovery, cognitive performance, self-control, and technical-tactical performance in elite judo athletes during international competitions.MethodsTwenty elite athletes (age: 20.6 ± 2.2 years; body mass: 72.3 ± 14.4 kg; height: 1.73 ± 0.09 m) were assessed during a 10-day period leading up to competition. Body mass, heart rate variability (HRV) at rest, cognitive performance, and technical-tactical performance were examined. Athletes were categorized into moderate (MWLG, n = 9) and high (HWLG, n = 11) weight-loss groups. Statistical analyses included repeated measures ANOVA and correlation tests.ResultsBoth groups showed significant body mass reduction (MWLG: mean: 3.0 ± 2.0%; HWLG: mean: 6.8 ± 1.5%), with moderate to strong correlations between body mass reduction and increased response times on Flanker task (r = 0.52-0.61, p < 0.05). HRV indices remained stable, reflecting athletes' physiological resilience across the pre-competition period. Importantly, no significant differences were observed between groups in technical-tactical performance, self-control and inhibitory control.ConclusionWL was moderately associated with delayed response times on an inhibitory control task, indicating a change in cognitive strategy. These findings emphasize the need for integrated strategies combining weight management, recovery protocols, and cognitive training, as the observed associations between WL and cognitive response times may influence decision-making processes without directly impairing technical-tactical performance.

Background: Virtual Reality (VR) can be used to train elite athletes using innovative ways such as through point-of-view (POV) observation and visual augmentation. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how, independent of physical practice, VR may be used to train visuomotor skills, especially the Quiet Eye (QE). Research Design: In a pre-post design, 42 golf novices either watched a training video in a VR headset that was based on Eye-Movement-Modelling-Examples (EMME) or did not receive gaze training (Control). One EMME variation showed the eye-gaze cursor of an expert while putting using a circle (i.e., cursor-only, termed Cursor), and a second variation showed the same gaze cursor but with peripheral information blurred (i.e., hereafter Blurred). Participants were not given any instructions about Quiet Eye. Subsequent putting performance and eye-movement behaviour were evaluated. Results: The results indicated that the Cursor visualisation significantly increased holed putts, reduced putting radial error, and improved putt line and length pre-to-post. There was also a significant reduction in radial error pre-to-post for the Blurred condition, but not for the Control condition. QE duration increased for all conditions pre-to-post, but improvement was largest for the Cursor condition, followed by Blurred, then Control. Conclusions: The findings indicate an enhanced learning effect of Cursor video training on longer QE duration and improved putting performance, including holed putts. Observing expert eye movement videos using VR augmentation may facilitate motor skill learning through visuomotor skill development, independent of physical practice.

Generated drawing is a specific instructional approach that has been investigated in academic settings. However, in sports, tactical drawings are often presented based more on coaches' preferences than on empirical evidence. This study examines the impact of coach's drawing and the moderating role of Visuospatial Abilities (VSA) on soccer tactical memorization and visual attention. A total of 54 male university students, all novices in soccer, were randomly assigned to one of two conditions. In the static-drawing condition, participants viewed a pre-drawn tactical diagram while listening to an oral explanation. In the dynamic-drawing condition, they observed the coach actively drawing the diagram while providing the same explanation. Initially, individuals' VSA were assessed through a control test. Subsequently, in a main test, participants memorized and reproduced the tactical scene while their gaze was recorded with an eye-tracking system. Key findings reveal a moderating effect of VSA, as high-VSA participants benefited more from the dynamic-drawing condition and showed more effective visual processing, supporting the ability-as-enhancer hypothesis. In contrast, low-VSA participants showed no significant benefit from the coach's dynamic-drawing and demonstrated less effective visual processing, indicating difficulties in extracting and interpreting diagram elements. These results highlight the importance of adapting instructional drawing strategies based on individual cognitive characteristics, particularly VSA, to optimize visual attention and memorization from narrated tactical diagrams.

Background: Motor skill development in early childhood is a critical determinant of later physical, cognitive, and social outcomes. Although motor imagery (MI) training is recognized as an effective approach to enhancing motor performance, its application in preschool children has been scarcely investigated. Purpose: To assess the effect of MI training on motor skills in preschool children. Research Design: Randomized controlled trial with three groups: MI group (MIG; n = 16), physical activity group (PAG; n = 15), and control group (CG; n = 15). Study Sample: 46 children (23 females; 23 males; age = 5.4 ± 0.3 years) from the same preschool. Data Collection and/or Analysis: The participants were evaluated at baseline and after the intervention. They all completed the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC-2) to assess motor skills. Results: MI training led to significant improvements in manual dexterity, ball skills, and balance compared to the CG and the physical activity group PAG. Conclusions: MI is a promising approach for enhancing motor skill development in preschool settings.

Objective: This paper examines the classification of handedness using the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI) through the lenses of P. W. Bridgman's operationalism and Paul Feyerabend's methodological anarchism. It addresses the philosophical debate surrounding the dichotomization of EHI scores into consistent and inconsistent handers versus alternative systems, such as tripartite classifications (Left, Right, Mixed) or continuous scoring. Method: A conceptual analysis was conducted to compare dichotomized, categorical, and continuous approaches to EHI data. The evaluation is grounded in operationalist and methodologically pluralistic frameworks to assess the legitimacy and utility of each classification system. Results: Although some researchers have questioned the appropriateness of dichotomizing the EHI, this approach has consistently produced empirically interesting and replicable findings. Dichotomization can be justified both as an operationally valid procedure and as consistent with methodological pluralism, making it a legitimate and useful analytic option. Conclusions: Clarity in handedness classification remains essential. Multiple frameworks may yield valuable but distinct insights across psychological subdisciplines. Encouraging methodological plurality and incorporating diverse handedness measures can enhance the reliability, interpretability, and applicability of findings in research on individual differences and cognitive variables related to handedness.

Background: The quiet eye (QE) period is defined as the final fixation prior to movement initiation for a minimum period of 100 ms. In golf the QE period continues beyond the ball being struck and typically lasts approximately 2-3s. Longer total-QE, pre-QE (pre-ball contact), and post-QE (post-ball contact) are associated with more complex tasks and higher-skilled golfers. However, excessively long QE durations are most likely counterproductive. Purpose: We aimed to use an in-situ design to investigate how task complexity affects QE duration in thirty golfers (10 Sub-elites, 10 Intermediates and 10 Novices). Data Collection: Participants performed four shots from increasing distances (greater task complexity). Total-QE, QE-pre, and QE-post were measured. Results: Novice total-QE indicated a significant moderate linear relationship with complexity, whereas no relationship was observed in intermediate and sub-elites. Novice QE increased by 53% between the simplest and the most complex condition. Conclusions: A ceiling effect may be a discriminating factor between skilled and less-skilled golfers, which could suggest that the mechanisms underpinning the QE in higher-skilled golfers are independent of task demands. The consistent QE durations observed in sub-elite golfers may imply that this period is used to parameterise the optimal movement variant or that this group did not find the most complex task more effortful. Novice golfers were more sensitive to alterations in tasks demands, which may indicate that the QE period reflects a higher cognitive load, explaining a linear increase in QE duration. A ceiling effect may indicate a difference in the purpose of QE between skilled and less skilled golfers.

Background: University students' emotions, creativity, and psychological well-being are interrelated, yet the mechanisms linking emotion-driven activities to creative expression and mental health outcomes remain underexplored. Purpose: This study aimed to examine the interrelationships between students' emotions in emotion-based activities, creativity, and psychological well-being. Research Design: A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing validated self-report questionnaires and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) for data analysis. Study Sample: The sample consisted of 952 university students learning English as a foreign language (EFL). Data Collection and/or Analysis: Data were collected via standardized questionnaires assessing emotional engagement, creativity, and psychological well-being. SEM was conducted using AMOS to evaluate the measurement and structural models, with reliability and validity indices reported. Results: Emotional engagement negatively predicted creativity (β = -0.584, p = .002), indicating that heightened involvement in emotion-based activities may constrain creative expression. Creativity positively predicted psychological well-being (β = 0.591, p = .001), and emotions exhibited a strong positive effect on well-being (β = 0.653, p = .001). The structural model explained 51% of the variance in psychological well-being (R² = .513, p < .001). The measurement model demonstrated satisfactory fit (CFI = 0.924, RMSEA = 0.067, TLI = 0.947), with all constructs showing strong reliability (CR ≥ 0.83) and validity (AVE ≥ 0.86). Conclusions: The findings underscore the complex interplay between affective experiences and creativity in shaping students' psychological well-being. Educational interventions should consider balancing emotional engagement with opportunities for creative expression to enhance mental health outcomes in academic contexts.

Background and Purpose: This study developed a reliable and ecologically valid virtual reality eye movements-based assessment system to evaluate basketball players' decision-making abilities.Research Design: The system incorporated expert ratings, inter-group differences, analysis of covariance, and test-retest reliability assessments to validate its effectiveness and reliability.Study Sample: A VR system with 100 task scenarios was used to assess decision-making performance and visual behavior. 30 high-level and 30 low-level players participated in two phases.Data Collection and Analysis: In Phase 1, a panel of basketball experts (N = 3) rated the decision-making scenarios. Kendall's coefficient of concordance (W) was used to analyze expert ratings, confirming content validity. Mann-Whitney U and independent samples t-tests were employed to assess decision quality and decision time differences between high- and low-level groups. Gender was included as a covariate in ANCOVA to control for gender effects. Gaze patterns were analyzed to examine differences in visual behavior. Phase 2 involved test-retest reliability analysis using Pearson's correlation coefficient (r).Results: High-level players performed significantly better in decision-making (p < 0.001) and had broader gaze distributions, while low-level players focused less on critical information. Test-retest correlations for decision scores (r = 0.846) and reaction times (r = 0.802) were significant (p < 0.001). Therefore, the high test-retest correlation reflects the strong reliability of the assessment system.Conclusions: This study is the first to validate the reliability and validity of a VR eye movements -based assessment tool for evaluating basketball players' decision-making abilities. By integrating eye-tracking technology with VR, this tool enables more accurate and reliable evaluations of basketball players' decision-making skills in future research.

This study investigated the impact of early success in cadet and junior World Championships on career longevity among elite judo athletes, focusing on the critical transition from junior to senior levels. Using survival analysis, we examined dropout rates and career durations for medalists and non-medalists, defining career termination as a period of at least two consecutive years without international competition. The results from the Cox regression showed that medalists exhibited significantly lower risks of career termination in certain years (e.g., 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016), with reductions ranging from 43% to 75%. However, this protective effect was inconsistent, with no significant differences observed in other years. Factors such as injuries, performance stagnation, and structural changes in the International Judo Federation's ranking system likely contributed to these variations, particularly during years of significant policy shifts. Our findings highlight the importance of early success in extending career duration while emphasizing that it is not a guaranteed predictor of long-term success. These insights indicate the need for tailored athlete development programs that address physical, psychological, and social dimensions, as well as further research to understand the mechanisms supporting career longevity and inform policies aimed at sustaining elite judo athletes.

Background: Tailored training methods for 200-m races may improve in Paralympic canoe sprint (PCS) kayaking. Understanding methods impact on fatigue can help coaches and athletes in guiding training periodization.Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the acute performance decrement (APD) in PCS athletes after phase-specific training sessions for the 200-m kayak race, and compare the training loads of three different methods and their correlation with APD.Research Design: Randomized, within-subject repeated-measures (crossover) study.Study sample: Twenty-four athletes who participated in 200-m kayak races at international and national events were recruited.Data collection: The athletes performed a maximum 200-m ergometer test at baseline and 1 min after three training methods: acceleration phase training (ACC), phase two training (P2), and race simulation training (RACE). The primary outcome was the APD, measured by the percentage decrease in performance outcomes of the 200-m ergometer test immediately after the training methods.Results: Significant APD was observed in time, power, and velocity during training sessions. The ACC phase showed the lowest decrement, differing significantly from P2 and RACE across the same outcomes. While ACC, P2, and RACE also showed distinct differences in power and velocity, APD did not significantly correlate with performance outcomes or training loads. Notably, APD magnitudes varied by training method, with longer set distances showing greater decrements.Conclusion: Reducing set distances might help maintain training intensity without significant performance decrements. Training loads did not significantly correlate with APD for any method, emphasizing the importance of monitoring training load to promote health, enhance performance, and minimize injury risks.