The purpose of this study was to investigate elite soccer players' attentional focus during their best performances, better understand the strategies they use to enter or re-enter optimal attentional states, and explore potential attentional differences according to soccer positions, performance tasks, and game situations. No previous studies have explored elite soccer players' attentional skills from a naturalistic and qualitative perspective in such detail. The growing interest in soccer among Canadians provided further justification for this study. Data collection consisted of individual semi-structured interviews with eight elite soccer players from five main soccer positions, namely goalkeeper, defender, wing, midfielder, and forward. Cross-case thematic analysis indicated positive thinking and pre-performance routines as important sources of optimal focus. Attentional focus varied according to soccer positions and performance tasks. Information processing, sport expertise, and attentional systems theoretical frameworks informed the discussion of results. Applied and theoretical implications were drawn and future studies were recommended.

The purpose of this study was to investigate elite soccer players' attentional focus during their best performances, better understand the strategies they use to enter or re-enter optimal attentional states, and explore potential attentional differences according to soccer positions, performance tasks, and game situations. No previous studies have explored elite soccer players' attentional skills from a naturalistic and qualitative perspective in such detail. The growing interest in soccer among Canadians provided further justification for this study. Data collection consisted of individual semi-structured interviews with eight elite soccer players from five main soccer positions, namely goalkeeper, defender, wing, midfielder, and forward. Cross-case thematic analysis indicated positive thinking and pre-performance routines as important sources of optimal focus. Attentional focus varied according to soccer positions and performance tasks. Information processing, sport expertise, and attentional systems theoretical frameworks informed the discussion of results. Applied and theoretical implications were drawn and future studies were recommended.

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of an external focus of attention on the learning of dart throwing at three different focus reminder frequencies (every two, every four and every ten trials). Twenty-four male and female subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Subjects threw darts at a circular target 60 times over two days while getting a reminder of their intended external focus at the three different reminder frequencies. Five-day delayed retention and transfer tests were conducted to assess learning, each consisting of five trials. The target was comprised of five concentric circles, with the center zone worth five points and the outer-most zone worth one point. Target scores were used for statistical analysis. Findings show that the groups given a reminder after every fourth and tenth trial perform better during acquisition (F=13.61; p<0.001). Furthermore, the group that received a reminder after every tenth trial performed the best during the retention test. Although, the high variability within groups may have prevented more significant differences between reminder frequency groups in the retention and transfer test results, it is evident that less-frequent reminders result in better performance and learning of dart throwing.

<p> This study was designed to examine three issues concerning the learning of a new coordination pattern. The first issue examined was the root of the conflicting findings of previous work concerning the effect of learning a novel coordination pattern on the performance an intrinsically stable antiphase pattern (Fontaine, Lee, & Swinnen, 1997; Lee, Verschueren & Swinnen, 1995; Zanone & Kelso, 1992). Consideration of these experiments revealed that different metronomes were used, and that this metronome difference is critical because it may have influenced the learners' attentional focus during learning. Therefore, the present experiment sought to examine whether a difference of attentional focus was the cause of this conflict. The second issue was whether the superiority of an external focus over internal focus of attention during learning would be evident in the learning of a new coordination pattern. And last, this study set out to examine the issue of prior learning of a bimanual coordination pattern on the learning of a new coordination pattern. Two groups of participants (one with an. internal focus of attention, and the other with an external focus of attention) learned to perform a 90° relative phase (RP) coordination pattern over two practice sessions, and were then asked to perform a 135° RP pattern in a third session. An additional two groups of participants (one with an internal focus of attention, and the other with an external focus of attention), served as controls, and learned to perform the 135° RP pattern over all three sessions. Results of this experiment did not support the hypothesis that a difference in attentional focus during learning is responsible for the conflicting findings concerning the effect of learning on intrinsic pattern performance. Although the results seem to indicate that an external focus of attention is more beneficial than an internal focus of attention during learning of a new coordination pattern, further work without feedback as a confounding factor is required. Finally, results show that prior learning does influence the learning of a new coordination pattern in that positive transfer of learning was evident (prior learning of the 90° pattern facilitated performance of the 135° pattern), and findings provide evidence for the creation of a new attractor with learning. </p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Mental fatigue impairs performance of physically-demanding tasks and increases rating of perceived exertion (RPE) while performing. However, there may be ways of overcoming such performance decrements. One possible method includes the use of attentionally focused instructions. Motor learning research has shown that externally focused instructions can lead to improved performance in comparison to internally focused instructions. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the moderating effect of attentional focus on the mental fatigue – endurance performance relationship as well as the mental fatigue – perceived exertion relationship. Undergraduate students (N = 78) completed two wall sit tasks to volitional failure, one before and one after the completion of a cognitive task. Half the participants were randomly assigned to complete a high cognitive demand task to induce mental fatigue (incongruent Stroop; HMF), while the other half performed a low cognitive demand task (documentary viewing; LMF) before the second wall sit. Immediately prior to the second wall sit, half the participants in each cognitive task group also received instructions to focus their attention either internally (INT) or externally (EXT) during the second wall sit. The main effect of mental fatigue (p < .001, d = .873) during the cognitive task and the main effect of attentional focus (p < .001, d = .883) during the wall sit task were significant, indicating effective manipulations. Results found no moderating effect of attentional focus on wall sit performance (p >.500) or RPE (p = .724). However, between-group analyses were conducted to probe the differences in performance between each group. Results indicated the HMF/INT group performed significantly worse than the LMF/EXT (p = .032) and trended towards performing worse than the HMF/EXT and LMF/INT groups (ps < .090). Significant differences in RPE were also seen between trials for the HMF/INT group (p = .009, d = .592) alone, suggesting detrimental effects of both mental fatigue and internal focus combined. Overall, the data indicate a potential moderating effect of internal attentional focus that may exacerbate the detrimental effects of mental fatigue on performance and RPE. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

The purpose of this study was to determine (a) the attentional focus strategies used by triathletes during the three stages of an Olympic distance triathlon, (b) if level of experience influences the attentional focus strategies used by triathletes, and (c) whether there is a relationship between athletes finishing times and the attentional strategies used in each stage of the race. Triathletes (N = 160) completed the Triathlon Attentional Focus Inventory, which measured association and dissociation during the swim, bike, and run. One-way ANOVAs revealed significant differences between the athletes' level of experience and the attentional strategies used, as well as differences between the athletes overall race time and the attentional strategies used during each stage of the triathlon. Athletes with more experience associated more during the race, whereas athletes with less experience dissociated more throughout the race.

This study investigated the effects of music choice on the ratings of attentional focus, affective valence, perceived exertion, and enjoyment during and after self-paced treadmill exercise of varied intensities. Thirty-four college-aged, healthy, active males and females volunteered to participate in the study. Participants completed 6 visits to the laboratory: the first visit was a medical screening to ensure safety of the participants. For the second visit, participants completed a maximal treadmill exercise test. On the third visit, participants completed the Brunel Music Rating Inventory-2 to determine their preferred and non-preferred music genres, and to self-select the low, moderate and high intensity exercise speeds that would be used in the experimental trials. During the last three visits, participants completed each of the three (preferred, non-preferred, no music) randomized and counterbalanced experimental trials. The Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale and the Feeling Scale were used to measure baseline and post-exercise ratings of enjoyment and affective valence. During exercise, the single-item Attentional Focus Scale, Feeling Scale, Borg 6-20, and Exercise Enjoyment Scale were used to measure attentional focus, affective valence, perceived exertion, and enjoyment, respectively. Results revealed a main effect for condition for affective valence and enjoyment (p < 0.001 for both interactions). A main effect was also found for intensity for attentional focus (p = 0.002) and perceived exertion (p < 0.001). Lastly, there was a main effect for activity revealed for affective valence (p = 0.047) and enjoyment (p = 0.012). Moreover, tests of between and within subjects factors revealed an interaction effect for condition by intensity for affective valence (p = 0.019) and for condition by intensity by activity for perceived exertion (p = 0.005). There was a general trend for thoughts to be more associative as intensity increased in both groups. In addition, there was a general trend for thoughts to be more dissociative during the preferred music condition compared to the non-preferred and no music trial. However, these differences were only found to be significant in the active group. Furthermore, there was a general trend in the active group for affective valence to be more positive regardless of exercise intensity or music condition when compared to the inactive group. Both groups showed the highest ratings of affective valence during the preferred music condition, followed by the non-preferred and no music condition. In-task enjoyment ratings were highest during the preferred music condition when compared to the non-preferred and no music condition regardless of exercise intensity or activity status. The results did not reveal significant differences for ratings of exertion across music conditions, which does not support previous findings. In conclusion, the perceptual responses in this study, which represent affective valence, attentional focus, and enjoyment, were generally more favorable during the preferred music condition and in the active participants. These results support previous findings to suggest exercising while listening to preferred music may lead to an increase in physical activity adherence.

A marcha humana, ou locomoção bípede, pode ser definida como sendo umprocesso contínuo de perda e recuperação o equilíbrio a partir da mudança de posição. Durante a marcha normal, a ativação da musculatura da coluna vertebral e acelerações do tronco resultam em ciclos de cargas aplicadas à coluna. O aumento da velocidade de caminhada aumenta a amplitude de movimento da coluna lombar e os níveis de ativação da musculatura ao redor do tronco. A coordenação postural automática alterada associada com lombalgia pode ser resultado de uma variedade de fatores que vão desde a estratégia de movimento escolhida até a diminuição da força exercida sobre a superfície de apoio, passando por mudanças nos níveis de contração muscular por medo do movimento e/ou dor. O foco atencional do indivíduo, quando dirigido a algum fator externo pode alterar a sua percepção da dor e diminuir as alterações em seus padrões de movimento na marcha. Estudos anteriores mostram que a força de reação do solo apresentou alterações significativas entre grupos de pessoas com e sem dor lombar crônica. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a possível influência do foco atencional no equilíbrio dinâmico de pessoas com dor lombar crônica bem como buscar, na marcha de pessoas com dor lombar crônica clinicamente comprovada, diferentes padrões de movimentos sob diferentes focos atencionais. Além disso, pretendeu-se descrever os efeitos dos diferentes focos atencionais sobre o comportamento das variáveis analisadas na marcha em sujeitos com e sem dor lombar crônica. Fizeram parte do grupo analisado 22 sujeitos que foram orientados, primeiramente, a executar três caminhadas que consistam em, ao menos, três ciclos completos da marcha na velocidade preferida, em linha reta, ao longo da pista de caminhada. Diferentes situações de condução do foco atencional foram utilizadas ao longo das caminhadas que se seguiram. A obtenção dos parâmetros cinemáticos angulares tridimensionais da marcha foi executada através de um sistema de análise de movimentos (Vicon Motion Systems) e os dados cinéticos foram obtidos utilizando-se duas plataformas de força modelo OR6-2000, (Advanced Mechanical Technology, Inc.,Watertown, MA, EUA). Todos os dados foram tabulados em planilhas eletrônicas do Microsoft Excel 2003 (Microsoft Corp., EUA). A análise estatística foi realizada no software SPSS 13.0, por meio de Análises de Variância entre as diferentes situações de condução do foco atencional e as variáveis analisadas, com nível de significância de 5%. A ANOVA entre as diferentes situações de condução do foco atencional e as variáveis analisadas não mostrou diferenças significativas entre cada tarefa executada simultaneamente à marcha dos indivíduos (p> 0,9). Conclui-se, a partir dos resultados encontrados, que as diferentes situações de condução do foco atencional utilizadas nesse estudo, apesar de referendadas pela bibliografia utilizada como base teórica, não podem ser usadas de maneira consistente como forma de diminuir os efeitos da dor lombar crônica sobre o comportamento das variáveis analisadas na marcha dos indivíduos avaliados nesse estudo. / The human gait, or bipedal locomotion, can be defined as the continuous process of losing and regaining balance from the change of a geographic location to another. During normal operation, the activation of the muscles of the spine and trunk accelerations result in load cycles applied to the column and increased walking speed increases the range of motion of the lumbar spine and the activation levels of the muscles around the trunk. Changes in the automatic postural coordination associated with low back pain may result from a variety of factors ranging from the motion strategy chosen to decrease the force exerted on the support surface , through changes in levels of muscular contraction for fear of movement and or pain. The attentional focus of the individual, when directed at some external factor, can change your perception of pain and decrease the changes in their patterns of gait movement. Previous studies show that the ground reaction force significantly changed between groups of people with and without chronic low back pain. The present study aimed to analyze the possible influence of attentional focus on dynamic balance of people with chronic low back pain and seek, in the gait of people with chronic low back pain clinically proven, different movement patterns under different attentional foci. In addition, we intend to describe the effects of different attentional focus on the behavior of the variables in gait in subjects with and without chronic low back pain. Formed the group examined 22 subjects who were asked, first, to run three walks consisting of at least three complete cycles of motion in preferred speed, straight along the hiking trail. Different leading situations of attentional focus were used along the walks that followed. The attainment of the three-dimensional angular kinematic parameters of gait was performed using a motion analysis system ( Vicon Motion Systems) and kinetic data were obtained using two force platforms model OR6 - 2000 ( Advanced Mechanical Technology , Inc. Watertown , MA , USA ) . All data were tabulated in spreadsheets Microsoft Excel 2003 ( Microsoft Corp . , USA ) . Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 13.0, using analysis of variance between the different leading situations of the attentional focus and the other variables, with a significance level of 5 %. The ANOVA between different leading situations of the attentional focus and the other variables showed no significant differences between each task performed simultaneously with the motion of individuals (p > 0.9). It is concluded from the results that the different leading situations of the focus used in this study, although ratified by the bibliography used as a theoretical basis, can’t be used consistently in order to diminish the effects of chronic low back pain about the behavior of the variables in the gait of the subjects in this study.

A marcha humana, ou locomoção bípede, pode ser definida como sendo umprocesso contínuo de perda e recuperação o equilíbrio a partir da mudança de posição. Durante a marcha normal, a ativação da musculatura da coluna vertebral e acelerações do tronco resultam em ciclos de cargas aplicadas à coluna. O aumento da velocidade de caminhada aumenta a amplitude de movimento da coluna lombar e os níveis de ativação da musculatura ao redor do tronco. A coordenação postural automática alterada associada com lombalgia pode ser resultado de uma variedade de fatores que vão desde a estratégia de movimento escolhida até a diminuição da força exercida sobre a superfície de apoio, passando por mudanças nos níveis de contração muscular por medo do movimento e/ou dor. O foco atencional do indivíduo, quando dirigido a algum fator externo pode alterar a sua percepção da dor e diminuir as alterações em seus padrões de movimento na marcha. Estudos anteriores mostram que a força de reação do solo apresentou alterações significativas entre grupos de pessoas com e sem dor lombar crônica. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a possível influência do foco atencional no equilíbrio dinâmico de pessoas com dor lombar crônica bem como buscar, na marcha de pessoas com dor lombar crônica clinicamente comprovada, diferentes padrões de movimentos sob diferentes focos atencionais. Além disso, pretendeu-se descrever os efeitos dos diferentes focos atencionais sobre o comportamento das variáveis analisadas na marcha em sujeitos com e sem dor lombar crônica. Fizeram parte do grupo analisado 22 sujeitos que foram orientados, primeiramente, a executar três caminhadas que consistam em, ao menos, três ciclos completos da marcha na velocidade preferida, em linha reta, ao longo da pista de caminhada. Diferentes situações de condução do foco atencional foram utilizadas ao longo das caminhadas que se seguiram. A obtenção dos parâmetros cinemáticos angulares tridimensionais da marcha foi executada através de um sistema de análise de movimentos (Vicon Motion Systems) e os dados cinéticos foram obtidos utilizando-se duas plataformas de força modelo OR6-2000, (Advanced Mechanical Technology, Inc.,Watertown, MA, EUA). Todos os dados foram tabulados em planilhas eletrônicas do Microsoft Excel 2003 (Microsoft Corp., EUA). A análise estatística foi realizada no software SPSS 13.0, por meio de Análises de Variância entre as diferentes situações de condução do foco atencional e as variáveis analisadas, com nível de significância de 5%. A ANOVA entre as diferentes situações de condução do foco atencional e as variáveis analisadas não mostrou diferenças significativas entre cada tarefa executada simultaneamente à marcha dos indivíduos (p> 0,9). Conclui-se, a partir dos resultados encontrados, que as diferentes situações de condução do foco atencional utilizadas nesse estudo, apesar de referendadas pela bibliografia utilizada como base teórica, não podem ser usadas de maneira consistente como forma de diminuir os efeitos da dor lombar crônica sobre o comportamento das variáveis analisadas na marcha dos indivíduos avaliados nesse estudo. / The human gait, or bipedal locomotion, can be defined as the continuous process of losing and regaining balance from the change of a geographic location to another. During normal operation, the activation of the muscles of the spine and trunk accelerations result in load cycles applied to the column and increased walking speed increases the range of motion of the lumbar spine and the activation levels of the muscles around the trunk. Changes in the automatic postural coordination associated with low back pain may result from a variety of factors ranging from the motion strategy chosen to decrease the force exerted on the support surface , through changes in levels of muscular contraction for fear of movement and or pain. The attentional focus of the individual, when directed at some external factor, can change your perception of pain and decrease the changes in their patterns of gait movement. Previous studies show that the ground reaction force significantly changed between groups of people with and without chronic low back pain. The present study aimed to analyze the possible influence of attentional focus on dynamic balance of people with chronic low back pain and seek, in the gait of people with chronic low back pain clinically proven, different movement patterns under different attentional foci. In addition, we intend to describe the effects of different attentional focus on the behavior of the variables in gait in subjects with and without chronic low back pain. Formed the group examined 22 subjects who were asked, first, to run three walks consisting of at least three complete cycles of motion in preferred speed, straight along the hiking trail. Different leading situations of attentional focus were used along the walks that followed. The attainment of the three-dimensional angular kinematic parameters of gait was performed using a motion analysis system ( Vicon Motion Systems) and kinetic data were obtained using two force platforms model OR6 - 2000 ( Advanced Mechanical Technology , Inc. Watertown , MA , USA ) . All data were tabulated in spreadsheets Microsoft Excel 2003 ( Microsoft Corp . , USA ) . Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 13.0, using analysis of variance between the different leading situations of the attentional focus and the other variables, with a significance level of 5 %. The ANOVA between different leading situations of the attentional focus and the other variables showed no significant differences between each task performed simultaneously with the motion of individuals (p > 0.9). It is concluded from the results that the different leading situations of the focus used in this study, although ratified by the bibliography used as a theoretical basis, can’t be used consistently in order to diminish the effects of chronic low back pain about the behavior of the variables in the gait of the subjects in this study.

A marcha humana, ou locomoção bípede, pode ser definida como sendo umprocesso contínuo de perda e recuperação o equilíbrio a partir da mudança de posição. Durante a marcha normal, a ativação da musculatura da coluna vertebral e acelerações do tronco resultam em ciclos de cargas aplicadas à coluna. O aumento da velocidade de caminhada aumenta a amplitude de movimento da coluna lombar e os níveis de ativação da musculatura ao redor do tronco. A coordenação postural automática alterada associada com lombalgia pode ser resultado de uma variedade de fatores que vão desde a estratégia de movimento escolhida até a diminuição da força exercida sobre a superfície de apoio, passando por mudanças nos níveis de contração muscular por medo do movimento e/ou dor. O foco atencional do indivíduo, quando dirigido a algum fator externo pode alterar a sua percepção da dor e diminuir as alterações em seus padrões de movimento na marcha. Estudos anteriores mostram que a força de reação do solo apresentou alterações significativas entre grupos de pessoas com e sem dor lombar crônica. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a possível influência do foco atencional no equilíbrio dinâmico de pessoas com dor lombar crônica bem como buscar, na marcha de pessoas com dor lombar crônica clinicamente comprovada, diferentes padrões de movimentos sob diferentes focos atencionais. Além disso, pretendeu-se descrever os efeitos dos diferentes focos atencionais sobre o comportamento das variáveis analisadas na marcha em sujeitos com e sem dor lombar crônica. Fizeram parte do grupo analisado 22 sujeitos que foram orientados, primeiramente, a executar três caminhadas que consistam em, ao menos, três ciclos completos da marcha na velocidade preferida, em linha reta, ao longo da pista de caminhada. Diferentes situações de condução do foco atencional foram utilizadas ao longo das caminhadas que se seguiram. A obtenção dos parâmetros cinemáticos angulares tridimensionais da marcha foi executada através de um sistema de análise de movimentos (Vicon Motion Systems) e os dados cinéticos foram obtidos utilizando-se duas plataformas de força modelo OR6-2000, (Advanced Mechanical Technology, Inc.,Watertown, MA, EUA). Todos os dados foram tabulados em planilhas eletrônicas do Microsoft Excel 2003 (Microsoft Corp., EUA). A análise estatística foi realizada no software SPSS 13.0, por meio de Análises de Variância entre as diferentes situações de condução do foco atencional e as variáveis analisadas, com nível de significância de 5%. A ANOVA entre as diferentes situações de condução do foco atencional e as variáveis analisadas não mostrou diferenças significativas entre cada tarefa executada simultaneamente à marcha dos indivíduos (p> 0,9). Conclui-se, a partir dos resultados encontrados, que as diferentes situações de condução do foco atencional utilizadas nesse estudo, apesar de referendadas pela bibliografia utilizada como base teórica, não podem ser usadas de maneira consistente como forma de diminuir os efeitos da dor lombar crônica sobre o comportamento das variáveis analisadas na marcha dos indivíduos avaliados nesse estudo. / The human gait, or bipedal locomotion, can be defined as the continuous process of losing and regaining balance from the change of a geographic location to another. During normal operation, the activation of the muscles of the spine and trunk accelerations result in load cycles applied to the column and increased walking speed increases the range of motion of the lumbar spine and the activation levels of the muscles around the trunk. Changes in the automatic postural coordination associated with low back pain may result from a variety of factors ranging from the motion strategy chosen to decrease the force exerted on the support surface , through changes in levels of muscular contraction for fear of movement and or pain. The attentional focus of the individual, when directed at some external factor, can change your perception of pain and decrease the changes in their patterns of gait movement. Previous studies show that the ground reaction force significantly changed between groups of people with and without chronic low back pain. The present study aimed to analyze the possible influence of attentional focus on dynamic balance of people with chronic low back pain and seek, in the gait of people with chronic low back pain clinically proven, different movement patterns under different attentional foci. In addition, we intend to describe the effects of different attentional focus on the behavior of the variables in gait in subjects with and without chronic low back pain. Formed the group examined 22 subjects who were asked, first, to run three walks consisting of at least three complete cycles of motion in preferred speed, straight along the hiking trail. Different leading situations of attentional focus were used along the walks that followed. The attainment of the three-dimensional angular kinematic parameters of gait was performed using a motion analysis system ( Vicon Motion Systems) and kinetic data were obtained using two force platforms model OR6 - 2000 ( Advanced Mechanical Technology , Inc. Watertown , MA , USA ) . All data were tabulated in spreadsheets Microsoft Excel 2003 ( Microsoft Corp . , USA ) . Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 13.0, using analysis of variance between the different leading situations of the attentional focus and the other variables, with a significance level of 5 %. The ANOVA between different leading situations of the attentional focus and the other variables showed no significant differences between each task performed simultaneously with the motion of individuals (p > 0.9). It is concluded from the results that the different leading situations of the focus used in this study, although ratified by the bibliography used as a theoretical basis, can’t be used consistently in order to diminish the effects of chronic low back pain about the behavior of the variables in the gait of the subjects in this study.