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An exploration of shifts in visual fixation prior to the execution of baseball batting: Evidence for oculomotor warm up, attentional processes or pre-performance routines?

Roberts, Claire-Marie

An exploration of shifts in visual fixation prior to the execution of baseball batting: Evidence for oculomotor warm up, attentional processes or pre-performance routines? Thumbnail


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Abstract

The visual performance of athletes should be considered high on the list of variables fundamental to elite sport performance. One particular aspect of visual performance that has gained dominance over the last 25 years is the quiet eye. Quiet eye is the final visual fixation of long, steady duration prior to the execution of a motor skill. However, as the concept of quiet eye has achieved dominance in the field of motor control, we know increasingly less about the visual behavior that precedes the onset of it. This is especially true for externally-paced interceptive tasks such as baseball hitting. The present study collected data on the visual scene using mobile eye trackers, as experienced by 58 professional baseball players during batting practice. The results suggest that athletes exhibit multiple dynamic shifts in visual fixation prior to the onset of quiet eye and the pitcher's action. Furthermore, cluster analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between the number of shifts in visual fixations and batting average, indicating that this visual skill may contribute to more efficient interception of the ball. The purpose of these dynamic shifts in visual fixation are proposed, alongside a call for further research to develop a deeper understanding of this pre-task visual behavior and its role in sport performance.

Citation

Roberts, C. (2017). An exploration of shifts in visual fixation prior to the execution of baseball batting: Evidence for oculomotor warm up, attentional processes or pre-performance routines?. https://doi.org/10.5923/j.sports.20170706.02

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 3, 2017
Publication Date Nov 1, 2017
Deposit Date Nov 6, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal International Journal of Sports Science
Print ISSN 2169-8759
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 7
Issue 6
Pages 215-222
DOI https://doi.org/10.5923/j.sports.20170706.02
Keywords baseball, visual fixation, eye tracking, quiet eye, visual performance
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/879276
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.5923/j.sports.20170706.02

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