The effect of state anxiety on the online and offline control of fast target-directed movements

Abstract

In target-directed aiming, afferent information is used to adjust limb trajectories during movement execution (i.e. online) and to enhance the programming of subsequent trials (i.e. offline). The objective of the present study was to determine the influence of state anxiety on both online and offline afferent information processing for the first time. Participants practiced either a directional aiming task (Experiment 1) or an amplitude aiming task (Experiment 2) without anxiety before being transferred to a high anxiety condition. In both experiments, results revealed that anxiety resulted in a decrement in performance. Furthermore, use of afferent information to adjust movement trajectories online was disrupted when movements were performed with anxiety, whereas there were no differences in the offline processing of afferent information between the low anxiety and high anxiety conditions.

The interaction between practice and performance pressure on the planning and control of fast target directed movement

“…In sport, the impairment of motor skills under pressure is termed ‘choking’ and defined as suboptimal performance in a situation of personal importance with strong incentives for accomplishment (Baumeister, 1984). However, detailed investigations into exactly which components of motor control are affected by pressure have yet to be fully explored (Lawrence, Khan, & Hardy, 2012b). Thus, the present study investigated how both the planning and control of movement change as a result of performance pressure.…”

“…Whilst both ACT and CPH have received significant empirical support (e.g., Baumeister & Showers, 1986; Beilock & Carr, 2001; Gray, 2004; Langer & Imberm, 1979; Lawrence et al, 2012b; Lewis & Linder, 1997; Masters, 1992; Mullen & Hardy, 2000; Mullen et al, 2005; Wilson, Smith, & Holmes, 2007), this body of evidence has primarily focused on outcome measures of performance and is therefore limited in its ability to determine what affect pressure has on the underlying pre-planning and online control processes that lead to movement outcome.…”

“…Recently, Lawrence et al (2012b) investigated the relationship between pressure on the online and offline processes movement. Participants performed aiming movements with both distance and direction accuracy requirements.…”

“…If however, corrections for variations in the movement trajectory are made during movement execution, then variability profiles would deviate from those that describe movement which is programmed in advance and not modulated online (Khan & Lawrence, 2005; Khan, Lawrence, Franks, & Elliott, 2003; Khan et al, 2003; Lawrence, Khan, Buckolz, & Oldham, 2006; Lawrence, Khan, Mourton, & Bernier, 2011; Lawrence, Gottwald, Khan, & Kramer, 2012a). Based on this analysis, Lawrence et al (2012b) provided evidence that the presence of pressure to perform disrupted the use of the online movement adjustments in aiming tasks. Since online adjustments are reported to be reflexive in nature and outside of conscious control, Lawrence et al (2012b) concluded that it is the processes proposed within the CPH (rather than ACT) that negatively impacted online correction processes eventually leading to choking in motor tasks.…”

“…Based on this analysis, Lawrence et al (2012b) provided evidence that the presence of pressure to perform disrupted the use of the online movement adjustments in aiming tasks. Since online adjustments are reported to be reflexive in nature and outside of conscious control, Lawrence et al (2012b) concluded that it is the processes proposed within the CPH (rather than ACT) that negatively impacted online correction processes eventually leading to choking in motor tasks.…”