Individual differences in highly skilled visual perceptual-motor striking skill

Abstract

Expertise studies into visual perceptual-motor skills have mainly focused their investigation upon group comparisons rather than individual comparisons. This study investigated the pick-up of visual information to time weight transfer and bat kinematics within an exemplar group of striking sport experts using an in situ temporal occlusion paradigm. Highly skilled cricket batsmen faced bowlers and attempted to strike delivered balls, whilst their vision was either temporally occluded through occlusion glasses prior to ball bounce or not occluded (control condition). A chronometric analysis was conducted on trials in the occlusion condition to quantify the pick-up of visual information to time biomechanical variables. Results indicated that initiation of weight transfer and bat downswing, as well as bat downswing completion, was significantly different between some individual batsmen. No significant difference was found between individual batsmen for time of weight transfer completion. Unexpectedly, it was found that achievement of the goal to strike delivered balls, that is, the frequency of bat-ball contacts was not significantly different between batsmen. Collectively, the findings indicate that individual differences exist in the coordination pattern of a complex whole body visual perceptual-motor skill, but these different patterns are used to achieve a similar outcome, which is known as motor equivalence.

Interdisciplinary Sport Research Can Better Predict Competition Performance, Identify Individual Differences, and Quantify Task Representation

“…Our example highlights that individual differences profiles were aligned with constraints theory that predicts the skill goal can be achieved through interaction of individual, task and environmental constraints (Higgins, 1977;Newell, 1986). Accordingly, our findings are consistent with other studies that have used constraints theory to predict and report individual differences in relation to performance at a specific instance in time (Müller et al, 2015a) and improvement of performance due to practice (Chow et al, 2008). Therefore, our developed equation could quantify individual performance, which is underpinned by an interacting constraints theoretical framework.…”

Automated vision occlusion-timing instrument for perception–action research

“…The driver controller is powered by six AAA batteries housed in a case and connected by a short cable to the driver controller. The driver controller, spectacle driver, and battery power supply are housed within a portable bag that is usually strapped to the participant (e.g., batter), with the vision occlusion spectacles being connected to the driver, as had been done in previous in-situ temporal occlusion studies (see, e.g., Müller et al, 2015).…”

“…Second, high-speed sports skills such as the cricket bowler's delivery action and ball flight occurs under 1 s. Delays due to the reaction time of the experimenter in depressing the timer button to correspond with a simultaneously observed bowler's kinematic event, as well as transmission of the signal to switch the spectacles from transparent to opaque, can be problematic in terms of the precise occlusion timing relative to a kinematic event. For example, manual triggering incurs a range of occlusion timing that is approximately 200-300 ms (see, e.g., Farrow & Abernethy, 2003;Müller, Brenton, Dempsey, Harbaugh, & Reid, 2015). Again, by means of an automated force plate trigger system, it has been reported that a cricket batsman's vision can be temporally occluded within a 50-ms range prior to or after ball release of a cricket bowler's action .…”

“…Third, the delay due to use of a manual trigger of occlusion can cause loss of data because the timing of occlusion does not correspond with the preplanned kinematics event(s). For example, it may be necessary to omit approximately 30% of the total completed trials per participant due to incorrect triggering of occlusion timing in relation to the corresponding kinematic event (see, e.g., Müller et al, 2015). Loss of data has been reduced below this percentage using an automated occlusion system .…”

Using the ‘Expert Performance Approach’ as a Framework for Examining and Enhancing Skill Learning: Improving Understanding of How Experts Learn

“…Psycho-physiological measures such as pupil diameter, inter-beat heart rate intervals, electromyography (EMG), and galvanic skin response may be recorded to examine changes in mental effort or stress/anxiety as a function of skill on the task (e.g., Vater, Roca, & Williams, 2015). Biomechanical measurement tools can also be employed to record kinetic and kinematic variables that give insight into movement planning and execution processes (e.g., Müller, Brenton, Dempsey, Harbaugh & Reid, 2015;Smeeton & Williams, 2012). Finally, various behavioural manipulations, such as dual-task paradigms, can be used to determine the type of processes engaged during anticipation and decision making (e.g., Mulligan, Lohse & Hodges, 2016a,b) or the cognitive and attentional load associated with a task or skill level (e.g., Broadbent, Causer, Williams, & Ford, in press).…”