Effects of anxiety on anticipation and visual search in dynamic, time-constrained situations.

Abstract

We tested the predictions of Attentional Control Theory (ACT) by examining how anxiety affects visual search strategies, performance efficiency, and performance effectiveness using a dynamic, temporal-constrained anticipation task. Higher and lower skilled players viewed soccer situations under 2 task constraints (near vs. far situation) and were tested under high (HA) and low (LA) anxiety conditions. Response accuracy (effectiveness) and response time, perceived mental effort, and eye-movements (all efficiency) were recorded. A significant increase in anxiety was evidenced by higher state anxiety ratings on the MRF-L scale. Increased anxiety led to decreased performance efficiency because response times and mental effort increased for both skill groups whereas response accuracy did not differ. Anxiety influenced search strategies, with higher skilled players showing a decrease in number of fixation locations for far situations under HA compared with LA condition when compared with lower skilled players. Findings provide support for ACT with anxiety impairing processing efficiency and, potentially, top-down attentional control across different task constraints.

Emotional games: How coaches' emotional expressions shape players' emotions, inferences, and team performance

“…Empirical findings point to the influence of emotions on various aspects of sports performance. For example, studies found that anxiety prolonged response times (Vater, Roca, & Williams, 2015), impaired attention regulation (Englert, Zwermmer, Bertrams, & Oudejans, 2015), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.11.004 Received 7 August 2018; Received in revised form 19 October 2018; Accepted 6 November 2018 and decreased perceptual-motor performance (i.e., dart throwing; Englert, Zwemmer, Bertrams, & Oudejans, 2015). In contrast, happiness improved power and speed performance (Rathschlag & Memmert, 2013 and predicted more successful game involvement (i.e., in basketball; Uphill et al, 2014).…”

What Do Football Players Look at? An Eye-Tracking Analysis of the Visual Fixations of Players in 11 v 11 Elite Football Match Play

“…Only a few studies have attempted to understand how visual fixations in football vary as a consequence of different task constraints (i.e., distance to the ball, attack v defense, number of players, and viewing perspective). For example, studies of simulated 11 v 11 play have shown that the number of fixations increases, the duration of fixations decreases, and the location of fixations is directed toward more objects of information when the ball is far from the player (Roca et al, 2013;Vater et al, 2016). When the ball travels closer, the location of gaze becomes more centrally focused toward the player in possession (PiP; Roca et al, 2013).…”

Identifying Factors Influencing the Martial Arts Athletes’ Performance

“…Some studies portrayed the empirical practices on how the martial arts athletes experienced with some influential factors when they compete in the various matches through the amateur and professional caliber. [20] stressed that athletes' anxiety increased since the higher state anxiety ratings led to decreased athletes' performance efficiency because the responding times and mental effort increased, too. Anxiety influenced towards search strategies with the higher skilled athletes who performed in the various matches, as compared with lower skilled ones.…”