When paying attention becomes counterproductive: impact of divided versus skill-focused attention on novice and experienced performance of sensorimotor skills.
Two experiments examined the impact of attention on sensorimotor skills. In Experiment 1, experienced golfers putted under dual-task conditions designed to distract attention from putting and under skill-focused conditions that prompted attention to step-by-step putting performance. Dual-task condition putting was more accurate. In Experiment 2, right-footed novice and experienced soccer players dribbled through a slalom course under dual-task or skill-focused conditions. When using their dominant right foot, experts again performed better in the dual-task condition. However, when using their less proficient left foot, experts performed better in the skill-focused condition. Novices performed better under skill-focus regardless of foot. Whereas novices and the less-proficient performances of experts benefit from online attentional monitoring of step-by-step performance, high-level skill execution is harmed.
Beilock
Sian L
SL
Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824, USA. beilocks@msu.edu
Carr
Thomas H
TH
MacMahon
Clare
C
Starkes
Janet L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D004526:Efficiency; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006055:Golf; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology; D012916:Soccer; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis