Should we use an internal focus of attention before an external focus of attention?

📝 Weekly paper summary

Utilizing an internal focus of attention during preparation and an external focus during execution may facilitate motor learning (Aiken et al., 2022)

Category

Randomized Control Trial

Context

Researchers have placed much focus (no pun intended) on comparing internal versus external focus of attention interventions. Most study designs have yielded results that suggest an external focus of attention elicits superior performance and learning relative to an internal focus of attention. Therefore, there's been a conception that it's always better to promote an external focus of attention in practice. However, others have argued that the dichotomy between using an interval versus external focus of attention in sports settings is too simplistic. Additionally, many athletes tend to shift their attention between multiple sources of information before, during, and after movement execution which contrasts the simplistic advice to use a single focus of attention at all times. Specifically, some data suggests that elite-level athletes may adopt an internal focus of attention before performing a task (i.e., during the movement preparation phase) and then shift to an external focus of attention when performing the task itself (i.e., the movement execution stage). Furthermore, in less-elite athletes, shifting attention internally may be valuable when initially learning a skill to consider what needs to change about the body's movement to improve movement execution. Since no data are addressing the efficacy of planning when to use which focus of attention, the purpose of this investigation was to determine how an internal (INT) versus external (EXT) versus shifting from an internal to external (IES) focus of attention would impact the performance and learning of a golf chip shot. The authors hypothesized EXT = IES > INT for acquisition, retention, and transfer.

Correctness

One challenge the authors noted was the low adherence when participants self-reported whether they maintained the appropriate focus of attention. It's become more common for studies to verify whether participants indeed adopted the intended focus of attention. Even with these questionnaires, it's hard to determine whether someone interpreted the instruction as intended with a high degree of confidence. The authors in this study only reported those with over 60% adherence. Still, it does raise questions about the value of attention focus cues in practical applications if such a large proportion of performers opt not to comply.

Another delimitation to consider is that this study's "retention" period was 24 hours. Understandably, it was this short given the constraints imposed on recruiting people for research. Still, it's just something to keep in mind that the "retention" in the study may not reflect our everyday understanding of what it would mean to retain a skill acquired during practice.

Contributions

• IET > INT = EXT during acquisition (this is a surprising finding given that most of the literature suggests that EXT > INT. However, I know of some other data that is in the process of being published that also indicates that INT = EXT in vertical jumping tasks, so perhaps there is a possibility that there is some publication bias? It's hard to say at this time, primarily since these authors used a relatively proximal focus of attention that, while being more effective for the novices in this study, is generally less effective than a more distal external focus of attention)
• Researchers and practitioners should perhaps modify the suggestion to avoid an internal focus of attention and instead consider using an internal focus of attention before movement execution (i.e., explain the athletes the technique before performing the skill, but then encourage the athlete to focus their attention externally when performing the skill)

🧠 Fun fact of the week

This week is a random space-related fun fact. According to astronauts, space has a distinct odour of searing steak! Another reason for me to love space :)

🎙 Podcast recommendation

I always enjoy the clarity that Dr. Stuart McGill brings to explaining quite technical concepts and, for those who don't know, Joe Defranco is a certified legend in Strength and Conditioning. I think you'll enjoy the discussion they had!

🗣 Quote of the week

With everything that's unfolded the past week, I couldn't help but think of Oppenheimer's famous words about creating the atomic bomb. Listening to him does the quote much more justice than writing it out.