Increasing the distance of an external focus of attention enhances learning

McNevin, Nancy; Shea, Charles H.; Wulf, Gabriele

doi:10.1007/s00426-002-0093-6

Cited by 459 publications

(318 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The advantage of the EF strategy is explained by the constrained-action hypothesis; attempts to consciously monitor/control body movements (IF strategy) interfere with automatic motor control processes. However, the interference can be weakened by applying the EF strategy6. This hypothesis is also supported by empirical findings based on movement correction frequency6, attentional-capacity demands7, and electromyography during motor learning tasks8.…”

supporting

confidence: 59%

“…Externally focused attention has been considered the more effective strategy for motor control tasks based on the constrained-action hypothesis, which presumes that conscious monitoring and control of body movement (IF strategy) interferes with automatic motor control processes whereas this interference can be weakened by the EF strategy6. Further, predictive eye movements towards the goal during goal-directed motor tasks28 would support EF as the spontaneous (natural) attentional strategy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Improved motor performance in patients with acute stroke using the optimal individual attentional strategy

Sakurada

Nakajima

Morita

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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It is believed that motor performance improves when individuals direct attention to movement outcome (external focus, EF) rather than to body movement itself (internal focus, IF). However, our previous study found that an optimal individual attentional strategy depended on motor imagery ability. We explored whether the individual motor imagery ability in stroke patients also affected the optimal attentional strategy for motor control. Individual motor imagery ability was determined as either kinesthetic-or visual-dominant by a questionnaire in 28 patients and 28 healthy-controls. Participants then performed a visuomotor task that required tracing a trajectory under three attentional conditions: no instruction (NI), attention to hand movement (IF), or attention to cursor movement (EF). Movement error in the stroke group strongly depended on individual modality dominance of motor imagery. Patients with kinesthetic dominance showed higher motor accuracy under the IF condition but with concomitantly lower velocity. Alternatively, patients with visual dominance showed improvements in both speed and accuracy under the EF condition. These results suggest that the optimal attentional strategy for improving motor accuracy in stroke rehabilitation differs according to the individual dominance of motor imagery. Our findings may contribute to the development of tailor-made pre-assessment and rehabilitation programs optimized for individual cognitive abilities.Cognitive factors such as attention direction 1,2 and motor imagery ability 3,4 can affect motor performance. Directional attention can follow two strategies when performing physical activity: internal focus (IF) and external focus (EF) 5 . In the IF strategy, attention is directed to body movement itself, whereas in the EF strategy, attention is directed to movement outcome. Previous studies have demonstrated the advantages of the EF strategy for motor performance in healthy populations 1,2 . The advantage of the EF strategy is explained by the constrained-action hypothesis; attempts to consciously monitor/control body movements (IF strategy) interfere with automatic motor control processes. However, the interference can be weakened by applying the EF strategy 6 . This hypothesis is also supported by empirical findings based on movement correction frequency 6 , attentional-capacity demands 7 , and electromyography during motor learning tasks 8 .Like the attentional strategy, motor imagery can be categorized into two distinct modalities, kinesthetic and visual motor imageries 9 . Kinesthetic motor imagery requires simulating the feeling of muscle or joint sensations, while visual motor imagery involves mentally visualizing one's body movements. These distinct motor imagery abilities vary across individuals, and the individual differences affect the acquisition of new movements 10 .Although both attentional strategy and individual motor imagery ability can affect motor performance, the specific effects of IF and EF strategies 11,12 and of individual abilities for kinest...

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supporting

confidence: 59%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improved motor performance in patients with acute stroke using the optimal individual attentional strategy

Sakurada

Nakajima

Morita

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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“…There is a considerable body of evidence to suggest that adopting differential attentional foci results in performance differences at retention (Wulf et al, 1999, 2002; McNevin et al, 2003). However, results of the current investigation revealed no performance differences following acquisition trials.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Movement Kinematics and Learning Strategies Associated with Adopting Different Foci of Attention during Both Acquisition and Anxious Performance

Lawrence¹,

Gottwald²,

Khan³

et al. 2012

Front. Psychology

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Research suggests that implicit strategies adopted during learning help prevent breakdown of automatic processes and subsequent performance decrements associated with the presence of pressure. According to the Constrained Action Hypothesis, automaticity of movement is promoted when adopting an external focus of attention. The purpose of the current experiment was to investigate if learning with an external focus of attention can enhance performance under subsequent pressure situations through promoting implicit learning and automaticity. Since previous research has generally used outcome measures of performance, the current study adopted measures of movement production. Specifically, we calculated within-subject variability in trajectory velocity and distance traveled every 10% of movement time. This detailed kinematic analysis allowed investigation into some of the previously unexplored mechanisms responsible for the benefits of adopting an external focus of attention. Novice participants performed a 2.5 m golf putt. Following a pre-test, participants were randomly assigned to one of three focus groups (internal, external, control). Participants then completed 400 acquisition trials over two consecutive days before being subjected to both a low anxiety and high anxiety (HA) transfer test. Dependent variables included variability, number of successful putts and mean radial error. Results revealed that variability was greater in the internal compared to the external and control groups. Putting performance revealed that all groups increased performance following acquisition. However, only the control group demonstrated a decrement in performance in the HA transfer test. These findings suggest that adopting an appropriate focus of attention during learning can prevent choking; with an external focus inhibiting the breakdown of automatic processes and an internal focus acting as a self-focus learning strategy and thus desensitizing individuals to anxiety effects.

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“…Specifically, researchers have distinguished between distal and proximal external foci. For example, McNevin et al (2003) used a stabilometer balance task and demonstrated that a distal external focus of attention on balancing platform markers placed 26 cm away from participants’ feet resulted in enhanced learning compared to a proximal external focus that required participants to focus on markers placed immediately in front of their feet, which, in turn, was more effective than an internal focus of attention. It appears that an external focus has more beneficial effects on learning when the direction of focus is remote from the action effects that produce the movement.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attentional Focus and Performance Anxiety: Effects on Simulated Race-Driving Performance and Heart Rate Variability

Mullen¹,

Faull²,

Jones³

et al. 2012

Front. Psychology

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Previous studies have demonstrated that an external focus can enhance motor learning compared to an internal focus. The benefits of adopting an external focus are attributed to the use of less effortful automatic control processes, while an internal focus relies upon more effort-intensive consciously controlled processes. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a distal external focus with an internal focus in the acquisition of a simulated driving task and subsequent performance in a competitive condition designed to increase state anxiety. To provide further evidence for the automatic nature of externally controlled movements, the study included heart rate variability (HRV) as an index of mental effort. Sixteen participants completed eight blocks of four laps in either a distal external or internal focus condition, followed by two blocks of four laps in the competitive condition. During acquisition, the performance of both groups improved; however, the distal external focus group outperformed the internal focus group. The poorer performance of the internal focus group was accompanied by a larger reduction in HRV, indicating a greater investment of mental effort. In the competition condition, state anxiety increased, and for both groups, performance improved as a function of the increased anxiety. Increased heart rate and self-reported mental effort accompanied the performance improvement. The distal external focus group also outperformed the internal focus group across both neutral and competitive conditions and this more effective performance was again associated with lower levels of HRV. Overall, the results offer support for the suggestion that an external focus promotes a more automatic mode of functioning. In the competitive condition, both foci enhanced performance and while the improved performance may have been achieved at the expense of greater compensatory mental effort, this was not reflected in HRV scores.

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Increasing the distance of an external focus of attention enhances learning

Abstract: Previous studies (e.g.

Cited by 459 publications

References 13 publications

Improved motor performance in patients with acute stroke using the optimal individual attentional strategy

Improved motor performance in patients with acute stroke using the optimal individual attentional strategy

The Movement Kinematics and Learning Strategies Associated with Adopting Different Foci of Attention during Both Acquisition and Anxious Performance

Attentional Focus and Performance Anxiety: Effects on Simulated Race-Driving Performance and Heart Rate Variability

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