The Influence of Anxiety on Visual Attentional Control in Basketball Free Throw Shooting

• DOI: 10.1123/jsep.31.2.152
• Publication Date: 2016-08-10T12:11:01Z
• Authors: Mark R. Wilson; Samuel J. Vine; Greg Wood
• Keywords: Basketball; Attentional control; QUIET

The aim of this study was to test the predictions attentional control theory using quiet eye period as an objective measure control. Ten basketball players took free throws in two counterbalanced experimental conditions designed manipulate anxiety they experienced. Point gaze measured ASL Mobile Eye tracker and fixations including were determined frame-by-frame analysis. manipulation resulted significant reductions duration throw success rate, thus supporting theory. Anxiety impaired goal-directed (quiet period) at expense stimulus-driven (more shorter various targets). findings suggest that may be a useful theoretical framework for examining relationship between performance visuomotor sport skills.