Eliane Musch

Intercepting Moving Objects during Self-Motion: Effects of Environmental Changes

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of background texture on an interception task during self-motion. Twenty-six participants modulated tricycle speed along one arm of a V-shaped track so as to intercept a ball approaching horizontally on the other arm of the V. Either a plain or a textured background (consisting of contrasting vertical stripes) was used. Velocity modulations occurred so as to keep the angle beta between the direction of heading and the line head-ball constant (constant bearing angle, or CBA strategy), indicating that this observer-environment relation might regulate the approach phase. In the textured condition, participants initially drove faster than predicted by the CBA model and compensated by slowing down in the second half. This is in line with the texture-induced overestimation of the ball velocity and implies that absolute velocity information is also used.

ARE BETTER EYE MOVEMENTS AN ADVANTAGE IN BALL GAMES? A STUDY OF PROSACCADIC AND ANTISACCADIC EYE MOVEMENTS '

The aim of this study was to compare prosaccadic and antisaccadic eye movements of experts in ball sports and controls. In the prosaccadic and antisaccadic task, subjects made saccades respectively towards and away from a suddenly appearing stimulus. By means of infrared-oculography, we compared horizontal eye movements of experts (n = 18) and controls (n = 20). Experts had shorter overall saccadic latencies, but significantly shorter latencies occurred only on the antisaccade task, not on the prosaccade task. Our findings seem to support the concept that prosaccades and antisaccades have different underlying mechanisms and that expertise in ball games mainly improves antisaccadic performance in terms of latency and variability.

Learning opportunities in 3 on 3 versus 5 on 5 basketball game play: an application of nonlinear pedagogy.

This study investigates the differential learning opportunities in 5 on 5 versus 3 on 3 basketball game play. Video-analysis of the game performance of thirty basketball players (10-11 years) resulted in significantly higher scores on all game performance components (GPC’s: cognitive decision making component (DM), motor skill execution efficiency (MSEfficiency) and motor skill execution efficacy (MSEfficacy) component), indicating more learning opportunities during 3 on 3 game play. The actual game performance level, showed only significantly higher scores for the percentage of positive decisions for cutting actions in the 5 on 5 condition. Future research is needed to indicate to what extent learning results are easier or faster attained when using small sided games, based on the nonlinear pedagogy framework, and second which is the optimal game play situation to assess game performance, and this for players of a different game performance level or for different stages.

Saccadic eye movements and finger reaction times of table tennis players of different levels

Building upon the finding that athletes have faster saccadic eye movements than controls (Lenoir et al., Percept Motor Skills 2000;91:546-552), the aim of this study was to compare prosaccadic and antisaccadic eye movements in table tennis players of different levels. Saccadic latency, error rate, and reaction time on a visuomotor task (key press) were measured. Saccadic latency and error rate did not decrease with an increasing level of expertise. Finger reaction times correlated positively with antisaccadic latencies, but not with prosaccadic latencies. It is concluded that in an active population, saccadic performance does not allow the discrimination between recreational, moderate, and top players because of a ceiling effect. The relation between eye and finger movements is discussed in the framework of common brain areas during movement preparation.

Voluntary saccades in fast ball games

In this princeps study of voluntary eye movements in fast ball games, a group of experienced sportsmen is compared with a group of inexperienced controls on an antisaccade task. The experienced players did not make more anticipatory eye movements or wrongly directed antisaccades. Their antisaccadic latency time was shorter than that of the controls. These results suggest that frontal control of saccades is favored in fast ball games. The findings are discussed in terms of a two-process model of eye movements and attention.