Event-Related Potentials, Reaction Time, and Response Selection of Skilled and Less-Skilled Cricket Batsmen

Abstract

The differences in P300 latency, P300 amplitude, response selection, and reaction time between skilled and less-skilled cricket batsmen have been investigated. Eight skilled and ten less-skilled right-handed batsmen each viewed 100 in-swing, 100 out-swing, and 40 slower deliveries displayed in random sequence from projected video footage whilst their responses and electroencephalograms were recorded. Logistic regression was used to derive a discriminative function for the P300 data. This was done to determine whether the skilled batsmen differed from the less-skilled batsmen on the basis of pooled P300 amplitude and latency data. All the batsmen were correctly characterised as being skilled or less-skilled. Logistic regression equations with reaction time and correctness of response data indicated that behavioural data do not correctly classify skilled performance. It is suggested that skilled cricket batsmen have a superior perceptual decision-making ability compared with less-skilled cricket batsmen, as measured by P300 latency and amplitude. This appears to be the first study showing a link between skill and cerebral cortical activity during a perceptual cricket batting task and it could pave the way for future studies on mental processing in cricket batsmen.

The Differentiation of Visual Sensorimotor Processes in the Representatives of Various Sport Disciplines

“…There are scientific studies confirming the association between observations of motor activities and the mechanisms of attention in sports with high perceptual requirements. For example, Taliep et al (2008) when analyzing the efficiency of attention processes in cricket players, observed a lower amplitude of the P300 wave (recognized as a psychophysiological measure of attention processes), faster reaction time and better discrimination and recognition of correct stimuli (film presentation of different kinds of ball throws). The authors suggested that players training sport with high perceptual requirements engaged less attention during recognition of the type of throw than other persons.…”

Comparación de la atención visual y campo visual en deportistas en función del nivel de pericia. (Comparison of the visual attention and visual field in athletes depending on their expertise level).

“…La experiencia influye en el rendimiento, dando lugar a una toma de decisiones más rápida y precisa. Por tanto, los resultados son confirmados por otros estudios que afirman que los deportistas expertos demuestran habilidades superiores en el uso de información visual anticipada, en cuanto a anticipación de la dirección de un móvil en una variedad de deportes diferentes (Ando, Kida y Oda, 2001;Kioumourtzoglou et al, 1998;Taliep et al, 2008).…”

“…El intento de observar todos los movimientos que suceden en un deporte, exige utilizar la visión de forma adecuada. Los científicos investigan si las destrezas visuales que poseen muchos deportistas pueden ser adquiridas a través de la práctica y, particularmente, si los deportistas expertos poseen una mayor ventaja sobre los deportistas menos expertos (Abernethy, Gill, Parks y Packer, 2001;Overney, Blanke y Herzog, 2008;Savelsbergh et al, 2002;Singer, Cauraugh, Chen, Steinberg y Frehlich, 1996;Taliep et al, 2008;Williams y Elliott, 1999).…”

An analysis of the performance of Black African junior provincial cricket batsmen

“…Firstly, advanced visual perceptual processing and visual-motor skills are important for skilled batting performance. [8][9][10][11] There is evidence indicating that in South Africa, BA children (aged between 4 and 7 years) have weaker visual-motor skills than W children. 12 This could hinder their batting development.…”