The Effect of Different Attentional Focus Instructions during Finger Movement Tasks in Healthy Subjects: An Exploratory Study

Rossettini, Giacomo; Testa, Marco; Vicentini, Marco; Manganotti, Paolo

doi:10.1155/2017/2946465

Cited by 17 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…This suggests that what matters in the attentional focus is the verbal instruction and the visual information per se does not undermine the ability to direct the attentional focus 52 , 53 . The fact that participants in our study declared to have been capable to maintain the focus of attention throughout the procedure is in line with previous studies 23 , 29 , 36 , 54 – 65 and suggests that the visual feedback did not distract them from the focus. The use of a subjective method, like a VAS, to measure the participants’ focus of attention could be considered as a limitation, due to the retrospective nature of the assessment and the plausibility that participants rated the duration of the focus in order to please the experimenter’s request 66 .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…The use of a subjective method, like a VAS, to measure the participants’ focus of attention could be considered as a limitation, due to the retrospective nature of the assessment and the plausibility that participants rated the duration of the focus in order to please the experimenter’s request 66 . Nonetheless, this approach represents a common methodological choice and therefore it allows comparisons with other studies 23 , 29 , 36 , 54 – 65 . Moreover, the fact that in our study the mean VAS scores ranged from 4.9 to 7.1, suggests that participants did not always give the highest score possible (i.e., 10), thus ruling out a mere effect of compliance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These instructions were reminded at the beginning of each experimental session and during the motor task. The ability to maintain the focus of attention was assessed at the end of the experiment by asking participants to estimate the duration of their focus of attention on the finger’s movements (IF) or on the piston’s movements (EF), depending on the groups, by means of a 10-cm-long visual analogue scale (VAS), ranging from 0 (never) to 10 (always) 36 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The placebo effect in the motor domain is differently modulated by the external and internal focus of attention

Rossettini

Andani

Negra

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

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Among the cognitive strategies that can facilitate motor performance in sport and physical practice, a prominent role is played by the direction of the focus of attention and the placebo effect. Consistent evidence converges in indicating that these two cognitive functions can influence the motor outcome, although no study up-to-now tried to study them together in the motor domain. In this explorative study, we combine for the first time these approaches, by applying a placebo procedure to increase force and by manipulating the focus of attention with explicit verbal instructions. Sixty healthy volunteers were asked to perform abduction movements with the index finger as strongly as possible against a piston and attention could be directed either toward the movements of the finger (internal focus, IF) or toward the movements of the piston (external focus, EF). Participants were randomized in 4 groups: two groups underwent a placebo procedure (Placebo-IF and Placebo-EF), in which an inert treatment was applied on the finger with verbal information on its positive effects on force; two groups underwent a control procedure (Control-IF and Control-EF), in which the same treatment was applied with overt information about its inefficacy. The placebo groups were conditioned about the effects of the treatment with a surreptitious amplification of a visual feedback signalling the level of force. During the whole procedure, we recorded actual force, subjective variables and electromyography from the hand muscles. The Placebo-IF group had higher force levels after the procedure than before, whereas the Placebo-EF group had a decrease of force. Electromyography showed that the Placebo-IF group increased the muscle units recruitment without changing the firing rate. These findings show for the first time that the placebo effect in motor performance can be influenced by the subject’s attentional focus, being enhanced with the internal focus of attention.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The placebo effect in the motor domain is differently modulated by the external and internal focus of attention

Rossettini

Andani

Negra

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

Self Cite

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“…Indeed, in daily practice, physiotherapists adopt instructions and feedbacks that direct the attention more frequently to the patient’s body (IFA) [ 35 , 44 ] or to a mixed focus of attention (IFA, EFA or non-specific) [ 36 ], thus influencing a possible preference for a specific attentional source. To avoid this possible source of bias, physiotherapists should investigate the patient’s preference and skills’ level in a specific task before deciding which instruction could represent the optimal strategy for motor performance and learning for the individual patient [ 73 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Attentional Focus Instructions on Motor Learning and Performance of Patients with Central Nervous System and Musculoskeletal Disorders: a Systematic Review

Piccoli¹,

Rossettini²,

Cecchetto

et al. 2018

JFMK

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Exercise is one of the main rehabilitative interventions, commonly used to improve performance and motor learning. During the application of attentional focus strategies, External Focus of Attention (EFA) aiming at the movement effect has been reported to have more efficacy than Internal Focus of Attention (IFA) aiming at movement characteristics in healthy subjects. There are not many studies that compare the EFA and IFA instructions in people with Musculoskeletal (MSK) and Central Nervous System disorders (CNS). The purpose of this systematic review is to determine if IFA or EFA, in patients with CNS or MSK, may improve performance and have some effects on motor learning. Databases used for research: PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PEDro, PsycINFO, SCOPUS. Inclusion criteria: Randomized Controlled Trial, quasi-Randomized Controlled Trial, enrolled subjects with CNS or with MSK and compared the efficacy of EFA and IFA. The studies suggest that the EFA is better than IFA in affecting the movement execution in patients with MSK, while conflicted findings emerge in presence of CNS disorders. Studies included in the qualitative analysis showed heterogeneous methodological features in study design and conductance, so results must be interpreted with caution.

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“…Attentional control is the ability to concentrate and focus on a particular task resisting distraction [10]. A great variety of studies confirm a relationship between attentional control and increasing performance in the field of sports [11,12,13], but also in music [14,15], motor skills [16], sleep-deprivation [17] and medicine [18]. Distraction control, which belongs to attentional control, can be described as the ability to control or to ignore the processing of distracting information [19].…”

Section: Attentional Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental preparation strategies and firefighter’s performance under stress

Marquardt¹,

Kramer²,

Schürmann³

2019

Int. J. SAFE

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Firefighters have to perform in high demanding environments, which require the ability to cope with stress. Research has shown that performance as well as stress reduction is affected by mental preparation strategies such visual imagery, activation, self-confidence, attentional control, relaxation, goal setting and self-talk. The outcome of mental preparation strategies is a psychological state called 'mental readiness'. Mental readiness emerged from sport psychology and was found to be important for performance improvements of top athletes. However, until now mental readiness has never been used to predict firefighter performance. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between mental readiness dimensions and perceived stress, success and task performance of firefighters. A sample of 68 firefighters was surveyed. The mental readiness dimensions as well as performance and stress issues were measured with the Mental Readiness Scale (MRS). Correlations and multiple regression analyses showed mixed results. Some scales like self-talk and goal setting did not significantly correlate with performance, success or stress of firefighters, whereas other sub scales such as visual imagery, activation and attentional control showed medium to large effects. The results reveal that firefighters benefit differently from the specific mental preparation strategies. Some strategies help firefighters to cope with stress. Other strategies seem to improve task performance and success. The results can be used to design evidence-based mental training programs to improve firefighter's performance and stress reduction.

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The Effect of Different Attentional Focus Instructions during Finger Movement Tasks in Healthy Subjects: An Exploratory Study

Cited by 17 publications

References 52 publications

The placebo effect in the motor domain is differently modulated by the external and internal focus of attention

The placebo effect in the motor domain is differently modulated by the external and internal focus of attention

Effect of Attentional Focus Instructions on Motor Learning and Performance of Patients with Central Nervous System and Musculoskeletal Disorders: a Systematic Review

Mental preparation strategies and firefighter’s performance under stress

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