A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Gaze Behavior and Cognitive Performance on Tasks of Multiple Object Tracking and Multiple Identity Tracking by Handball Players and Non-Athletes




AuthorsStyrkowiec Piotr, Cryz Stanisla, Hyönä Jukka, Li Jie, Oksama Lauri, Ras Maciej

PublisherSAGE Publications

Publication year2024

JournalPerceptual and Motor Skills

Journal name in sourcePerceptual and Motor Skills

Volume131

Issue3

First page 818

Last page842

ISSN0031-5125

eISSN1558-688X

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1177/00315125241235529

Web address https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125241235529

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/387152921


Abstract

Multiple object tracking (MOT) and multiple identity tracking (MIT) each measure the ability to track moving objects visually. While prior investigators have mainly compared athletes and non-athletes on MOT, MIT more closely resembles dynamic real-life environments. Here we compared the performance and gaze behavior of handball players with non-athletes on both MOT and MIT. Since previous researchers have shown that MOT and MIT engage different eye movement strategies, we had participants track 3–5 targets among 10 moving objects. In MOT, the objects were identical, while in MIT they differed in shape and color. Although we observed no group differences for tracking accuracy, the eye movements of athletes were more target-oriented than those of non-athletes. We concluded that tasks and stimuli intended by researchers to demonstrate that athletes’ show better object tracking than non-athletes should be specific to the athletes’ type of sport and should use more perception-action coupled measures. An implication of this conclusion is that the differences in object tracking skills between athletes and non-athletes is highly specific to the skills demanded by the athletes’ sport.


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Last updated on 2025-21-03 at 12:45