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
Authors: Styrkowiec Piotr, Cryz Stanisla, Hyönä Jukka, Li Jie, Oksama Lauri, Ras Maciej
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Publication year: 2024
Journal: Perceptual and Motor Skills
Journal name in source: Perceptual and Motor Skills
Volume: 131
Issue: 3
First page : 818
Last page: 842
ISSN: 0031-5125
eISSN: 1558-688X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125241235529
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125241235529
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/387152921
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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