Research backdrop…

Neuroscience Visuomotor Control

Applied Sport Psychology

Cognitive Psychology

Visuomotor Skills:

• LEARN• REFINE (master)• PERFORM (under pressure)

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Visual control- The Quiet Eye

• Experts seem to know where and when to look...

• The duration of the final fixation prior to movement is critical...!

• Named the Quiet Eye(QE; Vickers, 1996)

- Longer QE for experts and successful shots.

- Shorter QE when anxious.

2

Can we train the QE?(rather than the movement)

• LEARN

• REFINE

• PERFORM

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• Train to adopt expert QE:– Different sports.– Novice and elite.

• QE trained vs. Control.

• Training phase.

• Testing phase: – Retention (learning)– Pressure (anxiety)

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5VINE, S.J. & Wilson, M.R. (2011). The influence of quiet eye training and pressure on attention and visuo-motor control. Acta Psychologica: 136, 340–346.

Applications to Surgery...

• Laparoscopic surgery:- ‘Key hole’ surgery

• ...is challenging:- Elongated tools- 2D Image on screen

• ...and stressful:- Under pressure- Multi - tasking

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Baseline Tenth Retention Multi-task20

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Gaze Motor ControlC

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Thank you!

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Keep your eyes on the prize...