6.3 Focus of Attention (Internal vs. External)
5 min read•july 30, 2024
Focus of attention is crucial in motor learning. directs attention to body movements, while emphasizes movement effects on the environment. Research shows external focus often leads to better learning and performance across various tasks and skill levels.
The suggests internal focus disrupts automatic control processes, while external focus promotes efficient movement patterns. This topic highlights how attentional strategies can significantly impact motor and performance, emphasizing the importance of proper focus in learning and executing movements.
Internal vs External Focus of Attention
Differentiating Between Internal and External Focus
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Frontiers | The Neural Correlates of Consciousness and Attention: Two Sister Processes of the Brain View original
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Frontiers | The Neural Correlates of Consciousness and Attention: Two Sister Processes of the Brain View original
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Top images from around the web for Differentiating Between Internal and External Focus
Frontiers | The Neural Correlates of Consciousness and Attention: Two Sister Processes of the Brain View original
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Frontiers | The Neural Correlates of Consciousness and Attention: Two Sister Processes of the Brain View original
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Frontiers | The Neural Correlates of Consciousness and Attention: Two Sister Processes of the Brain View original
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- Internal focus of attention directs the learner's attention to their own body movements
- Focuses on the position of arms or legs during a specific movement (arm extension in a tennis serve, foot placement in a soccer kick)
- External focus of attention directs the learner's attention to the effects of their movements on the environment
- Focuses on the trajectory of a ball they are throwing or the target they are aiming for (the arc of a basketball shot, the bullseye in archery)
- The distinction between internal and external focus is based on the direction of the learner's attention
- Internal focus: towards their own body
- External focus: towards the outcome of their actions
Impact on Motor Skill Acquisition and Performance
- Attentional focus can significantly influence the effectiveness of motor skill acquisition and the quality of performance
- An external focus of attention enhances motor learning and performance compared to an internal focus in many tasks
- Basketball shooting, golf putting, balance tasks
- The constrained action hypothesis suggests that an internal focus of attention can disrupt automatic control processes
- Leads to decreased performance and learning
- An external focus of attention promotes more efficient and effective movement patterns
- Allows the motor system to self-organize and exploit natural movement tendencies
Attentional Focus and Motor Skill Learning
Research Findings on Effectiveness
- Numerous studies have consistently demonstrated the superiority of an external focus of attention over an internal focus for motor skill learning and performance
- A meta-analysis by Wulf (2013) found that an external focus of attention enhances motor learning and performance across a wide range of tasks and skill levels
- Average effect size of 0.48
- Benefits of an external focus of attention are evident in both novice and skilled performers
- Also seen in different age groups and populations (children, older adults, individuals with motor impairments)
- Some studies suggest that the optimal distance of the external focus from the body may vary depending on the task and the individual's skill level
- A more distal focus may be beneficial for skilled performers (focusing on the flight of the ball vs. the racket in tennis)
- While the majority of research supports the advantages of an external focus, a few studies have found no significant differences between internal and external focus conditions
- Highlights the need for further investigation into potential moderating factors (task complexity, individual differences)
Potential Mechanisms and Explanations
- The constrained action hypothesis proposes that an internal focus of attention interferes with automatic motor control processes
- Constrains the motor system and disrupts the natural coordination of movements
- An external focus of attention allows for more automatic and unconscious control of movements
- Facilitates the utilization of implicit learning mechanisms and reduces conscious interference
- An external focus may promote a more efficient organization of the motor system
- Encourages the recruitment of relevant muscle synergies and minimizes unnecessary muscular activity
- Focusing on the effects of movements on the environment may provide more salient and meaningful feedback for the learner
- Enhances the formation of accurate internal models and facilitates error detection and correction
Effectiveness of Attentional Focus Strategies
Advantages of an External Focus
- Enhanced motor learning and retention
- Faster acquisition of new skills and improved long-term retention of learned skills
- Improved performance outcomes
- Greater accuracy, consistency, and efficiency in executing motor tasks
- Reduced cognitive load and attentional demands
- Allows for more automatic and fluid execution of movements
- Increased movement efficiency and economy
- Optimized coordination patterns and reduced muscular activity
- Facilitated transfer of learning to novel tasks and contexts
- Promotes the development of generalizable motor skills
Limitations and Considerations
- Individual differences in attentional preferences and learning styles
- Some learners may benefit from a combination of internal and external focus cues depending on the stage of learning and personal preferences
- Task complexity and skill level
- The optimal attentional focus strategy may vary depending on the complexity of the task and the learner's skill level
- Novice learners may initially benefit from some internal focus cues to establish basic movement patterns
- Potential ceiling effects in highly skilled performers
- The benefits of an external focus may be less pronounced in experts who have already optimized their movement patterns
- Need for further research on the long-term retention and transfer of skills learned under different attentional focus conditions
- Most studies have focused on immediate performance outcomes rather than long-term learning effects
Applying Attentional Focus Strategies
Instructional Strategies
- Prioritize the use of external focus instructions and feedback when teaching motor skills
- Direct the learner's attention to the desired outcome or the effect of their movements on the environment ("Focus on the target," "Push against the ground")
- Use analogies or metaphors that promote an external focus of attention
- "Imagine you are throwing a dart" for a basketball shot, "Pretend you are standing on a balance beam" for a balance task
- Avoid using internal focus cues or feedback that direct attention to specific body parts or movements
- This may hinder performance and learning
- Provide clear and concise external focus instructions
- Minimize extraneous information and ensure that the learner understands the desired outcome
Feedback and Cueing Techniques
- Emphasize external focus feedback that highlights the results of the learner's actions
- "The ball landed two feet from the hole," "Your shot hit the top right corner of the target"
- Use visual aids or demonstrations that direct attention to the external effects of movements
- Laser pointers, target lines, or video feedback showing the trajectory of an object
- Incorporate external focus cues into practice drills and training exercises
- Set up targets, obstacles, or markers that encourage a focus on the environment
- Provide real-time feedback using technology or verbal cues that reinforce an external focus
- Motion sensors, force plates, or verbal prompts that highlight the desired outcome
Individualizing Attentional Focus Strategies
- Consider the individual's preferences and experiences when implementing attentional focus strategies
- Some learners may benefit from a combination of internal and external focus cues depending on the stage of learning and the complexity of the task
- Adapt the attentional focus instructions to the learner's skill level and progress
- Novice learners may require more frequent and explicit external focus cues, while advanced learners may benefit from more subtle and implicit cues
- Monitor the learner's performance and adjust the attentional focus strategies accordingly
- If the learner is struggling with an external focus, consider incorporating some internal focus cues to address specific technical issues
- Encourage learners to experiment with different attentional focus strategies during practice
- Foster self-discovery and help learners identify the most effective focus for their individual needs
Key Terms to Review (17)
Attentional shift: Attentional shift refers to the process of redirecting one's focus from one stimulus or task to another, which can significantly impact performance in various activities. This ability to shift attention is crucial in motor learning and control, as it allows individuals to adapt to changing environments and respond to different cues. Understanding how attentional shifts work can help optimize focus strategies during practice and performance, enhancing skill acquisition and execution.
Augmented Feedback: Augmented feedback refers to information provided to a learner about their performance that goes beyond intrinsic feedback, helping to improve motor skills and enhance learning. This type of feedback can be critical in guiding learners towards better technique and understanding of their movements, influencing sensory-motor adaptation and focusing attention effectively.
Automaticity: Automaticity refers to the ability to perform a task with little to no conscious effort, often resulting from extensive practice and skill development. This process allows individuals to execute motor skills efficiently while minimizing cognitive load, leading to enhanced performance, especially in complex tasks or dual-task scenarios.
Constrained Action Hypothesis: The constrained action hypothesis suggests that when individuals focus their attention internally, it can lead to increased conscious control of movement, which may hinder performance. This concept highlights the importance of directing attention externally to enhance motor skill execution and fluidity. By understanding this hypothesis, individuals can better appreciate how focusing on the outcome of a movement rather than on the mechanics can improve overall performance.
Constraint-led approach: The constraint-led approach is a framework for understanding motor learning that emphasizes the interaction between an individual, their environment, and the task being performed. This perspective highlights how constraints, whether they are physical, perceptual, or social, can shape an individual's movement patterns and decision-making processes, ultimately affecting performance. By understanding these constraints, practitioners can design practice environments that facilitate skill development and adaptation.
Diminished Performance: Diminished performance refers to a decrease in effectiveness or efficiency in executing a motor skill or task. This reduction can occur due to various factors, including increased anxiety, distractions, or an improper focus of attention, which can significantly affect how well someone performs a task, particularly in high-pressure situations.
Environmental Cues: Environmental cues are external stimuli present in the surroundings that can influence motor performance and learning. These cues can come from various sources, such as visual, auditory, or tactile information, and they help individuals to direct their attention effectively during skill execution. By guiding focus, environmental cues play a crucial role in both learning new skills and enhancing performance.
External Focus: External focus refers to directing attention toward the effects of movement in the environment, rather than the movements themselves. This concept is crucial in motor learning as it influences how skills are acquired and performed. Focusing externally can enhance performance and learning by promoting automaticity in motor actions, allowing for a more fluid execution of skills.
Focus-switching studies: Focus-switching studies investigate how individuals transition their attention between internal and external cues while performing motor tasks. These studies help reveal the impact of attention focus on skill execution, performance outcomes, and overall motor learning, shedding light on the benefits of directing focus appropriately during practice and competition.
Interference Effect: The interference effect refers to the phenomenon where the learning or performance of a motor skill is hindered by the presence of other tasks or skills, particularly when they share similar characteristics. This effect highlights the competition for cognitive and motor resources in the brain, demonstrating how different focuses of attention, whether internal or external, can influence performance outcomes during skill acquisition and execution.
Internal Focus: Internal focus refers to the concentration of attention on the movement or bodily sensations associated with performing a skill. This type of focus emphasizes the mechanics of one's movements, such as how a muscle feels during an action or how the body is positioned while executing a task. While this approach can enhance awareness of technique, it may also lead to overthinking and disrupt the automaticity of skills, impacting overall performance.
Optimum Theory: Optimum Theory suggests that there is an ideal focus of attention that maximizes performance in motor tasks. This theory highlights the balance between internal focus, which involves concentrating on bodily movements, and external focus, which directs attention toward the effects of movements on the environment. The theory emphasizes that optimal performance often occurs when individuals adopt an external focus rather than an internal one, leading to better movement efficiency and learning.
Performance enhancement: Performance enhancement refers to the strategies and techniques employed to improve an individual's ability to execute a skill or task effectively. This concept can be influenced by various factors such as the focus of attention, types of feedback received, and the methods of practice applied. By understanding how these elements interact, individuals can optimize their learning and performance in physical activities and sports.
Selective Attention: Selective attention is the cognitive process of focusing on specific stimuli while ignoring others, allowing individuals to prioritize relevant information and efficiently allocate their mental resources. This concept is crucial in understanding how individuals learn motor skills, as it influences the processing of sensory information and guides actions based on internal and external cues.
Self-report questionnaires: Self-report questionnaires are tools used to gather information directly from individuals about their thoughts, feelings, behaviors, or experiences. These questionnaires typically consist of a series of questions that participants answer based on their personal perceptions, allowing researchers to assess aspects such as focus of attention, which can be classified as internal or external. By understanding how individuals report their attention focus, researchers can gain insights into the cognitive processes involved in motor learning and control.
Skill Acquisition: Skill acquisition refers to the process of learning and refining motor skills through practice and experience, ultimately leading to improved performance. This concept is crucial in understanding how individuals adapt their movements, develop techniques, and enhance their proficiency in various activities, connecting closely with the stages of learning and the principles underlying motor control.
Video analysis: Video analysis refers to the systematic examination and interpretation of recorded visual footage to enhance performance, understand techniques, and improve learning outcomes. It plays a vital role in sports and physical activities by providing athletes and coaches with insights into movement patterns, skill execution, and tactical decisions, enabling them to make informed adjustments and enhance their training.