The effect of motivational and instructional self-talk on attentional control under noise distraction

Abstract

Inhibition is the key factor of attentional control (AC). Basketball players are typically exposed to noise from the audience or opposing teams while competing. These distractions disrupt the attentional systems, ultimately compromise the athletes’ inhibition ability and directly affect their performance on the court. Hence, effective AC strategies are crucial. Two studies were demonstrated to investigate the effects of noise distractions on attentional control and the moderating effect of self-talk. In Study 1, 36 participants undertook the Stroop task, showing an increased error rate with noise distraction. Thirty-nine national second-level basketball players participated in Study 2, where they engaged in the Antisaccade task under both quiet and noise-distraction conditions, employing different self-talk strategies. Results showed that instructional self-talk reduced the antisaccade error rate in quiet conditions, while motivational self-talk increased the error rate under noise distractions. These findings suggests that noise distraction reduces AC. In competition scenarios, basketball players are required to appropriately implement self-talk strategies to improve AC and prevent potential counterproductive effects.

Noisy condition and three-point shot performance in skilled basketball players: the limited effect of self-talk

“…For instance, a study by Galanis and Hatzigeorgiadis revealed that, despite 6 weeks of shooting training, there was a significant reduction in shooting accuracy when athletes were subjected to noise distractions as compared to baseline levels where no such distraction was present ( 6 ). According to Attentional Control Theory (ACT), auditory noise disrupts attentional control processes, making it difficult to focus on the task at hand ( 7 , 8 ). This disruption compromises athletes’ attentional control ability, hindering their concentration on movements or strategies during competitions, and ultimately results in poorer performance ( 8 ).…”

“…According to Attentional Control Theory (ACT), auditory noise disrupts attentional control processes, making it difficult to focus on the task at hand ( 7 , 8 ). This disruption compromises athletes’ attentional control ability, hindering their concentration on movements or strategies during competitions, and ultimately results in poorer performance ( 8 ). The degree of disruption is further exacerbated by the unpredictability and variability of the noise.…”

Шумове Навантаження І Його Вплив На Стан Організму Баскетбольних Арбітрів

“…Однак, механізм, за допомогою якого відбувається вплив на оброб-ку інформації, в тому числі у практиці фізичної культури і спорту, є джерелом багатьох дискусій. Більшість існуючих досліджень вивчали лише вплив інтенсивності (величини) на продуктивність, хоча результати були здебільшого неоднозначними [15]. До прикладу, результати досліджень D. E. Broadbent свідчать, що викликати стрес дією звуку можна лише через особливо чутливі завдання, тобто тривалого впливу із дуже високою або дуже низькою швидкістю подання інформації [6].…”