2002/01/01 by Sian L. Beilock, Thomas H. Carr, Clare MacMahon +1 · 2 citations
Psychology · Neuroscience · #Sport Psychology and Performance #Motor Control and Adaptation #Hemispheric Asymmetry in Neuroscience #Task (project management) #Psychology #Dual (grammatical number) #Cognitive psychology #Applied psychology
paper · doi:10.1037/1076-898x.8.1.6
openalex publication_date 2002/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Two experiments examined the impact of attention on sensorimotor skills. In Experiment 1, experienced golfers putted under dual-task conditions designed to distract attention from putting and under skill-focused conditions that prompted attention to step-by-step putting performance. Dual-task condition putting was more accurate. In Experiment 2, right-footed novice and experienced soccer players dribbled through a slalom course under dual-task or skill-focused conditions. When using their dominant right foot, experts again performed better in the dual-task condition. However, when using their less proficient left foot, experts performed better in the skill-focused condition. Novices performed better under skill-focus regardless of foot. Whereas novices and the less-proficient performances of experts benefit from online attentional monitoring of step-by-step performance, high-level skill execution is harmed.