TY - JOUR

T1 - Every story has two sides: evaluating information processing and ecological dynamics perspectives of focus of attention in skill acquisition.

AU - Gottwald, Vicky

AU - Davies, Marianne

AU - Owen, Robin

PY - 2023/5/24

Y1 - 2023/5/24

N2 - Directing our focus of attention appropriately during task execution can benefitoutcome performance, cognitive efficiency, and physiological efficiency. Forinstance, individuals may benefit from adopting an external focus of attention (i.e.,by focusing attention on the effects of one’s movements on the environment)over an internal focus of attention (e.g., focusing on one’s body movements).However, accounts concerning the theoretical functioning of such effects haveprimarily relied on hierarchical information processing perspectives; far lessconsideration has been given to potentially alternative explanations based onecological dynamics, instances where an internal focus may be desirable over anexternal focus, and the associated applied implications. Within the present review,we: (a) outline the most recent developments in attentional focus research;(b) evaluate similarities and differences between information processing andecological dynamics explanations of the focus of attention effect; (c) providepractical recommendations; and (d) discuss future research avenues. In doing so,a case is made for an “Ecological Dynamics Account of Attentional Focus” to actas an alternative to information processing-based hypotheses.

AB - Directing our focus of attention appropriately during task execution can benefitoutcome performance, cognitive efficiency, and physiological efficiency. Forinstance, individuals may benefit from adopting an external focus of attention (i.e.,by focusing attention on the effects of one’s movements on the environment)over an internal focus of attention (e.g., focusing on one’s body movements).However, accounts concerning the theoretical functioning of such effects haveprimarily relied on hierarchical information processing perspectives; far lessconsideration has been given to potentially alternative explanations based onecological dynamics, instances where an internal focus may be desirable over anexternal focus, and the associated applied implications. Within the present review,we: (a) outline the most recent developments in attentional focus research;(b) evaluate similarities and differences between information processing andecological dynamics explanations of the focus of attention effect; (c) providepractical recommendations; and (d) discuss future research avenues. In doing so,a case is made for an “Ecological Dynamics Account of Attentional Focus” to actas an alternative to information processing-based hypotheses.

KW - sport

KW - attentional focus

KW - movement

KW - cognition

KW - dynamical systems

KW - motor learning

U2 - 10.3389/fspor.2023.1176635

DO - 10.3389/fspor.2023.1176635

M3 - Review article

VL - 5

JO - Frontiers

JF - Frontiers

SN - 0160-9009

M1 - 1176635

ER -