Probing expert anticipation with the temporal occlusion paradigm: Experimental investigations of some methodological issues

Copyright @ 2005 Human KineticsTwo experiments were conducted to examine whether the conclusions drawn regarding the timing of anticipatory information pick-up from temporal occlusion studies are influenced by whether (a) the viewing period is of variable or fixed duration and (b) the task is a laboratory-based one with simple responses or a natural one requiring a coupled, interceptive movement response. Skilled and novice tennis players either made pencil-and-paper predictions of service direction (Experiment 1) or attempted to hit return strokes (Experiment 2) to tennis serves while their vision was temporally occluded in either a traditional progressive mode (where more information was revealed in each subsequent occlusion condition) or a moving window mode (where the visual display was only available for a fixed duration with this window shifted to different phases of the service action). Conclusions regarding the timing of information pick-up were generally consistent across display mode and across task setting lending support to the veracity and generalisability of findings regarding perceptual expertise in existing laboratory-based progressive temporal occlusion studies.This study is funded by the Australian Institute of Sport Tennis program

OER Evidence Report 2013-2014

The Open Educational Resources Research Hub (OER Research Hub) provides a focus for research, designed to give answers to the overall question ‘What is the impact of OER on learning and teaching practices?’ and identify the particular influence of openness. We do this by working in collaboration with projects across four education sectors (K12, college, higher education and informal) extending a network of research with shared methods and shared results. The project combines: – Targeted research collaboration with high profile OER projects – A programme of international fellowship – Global networking and expertise in OER implementation and evaluation – A hub for research data and excellence in practice This report is an interim review of evidence recorded against the key hypotheses that focus the research of the OER Research Hub project

A novel training tool for batters to watch the ball

postprintConference of Science, Medicine & Coaching in Cricket 2010, Queensland, Australia, 1-3 June 2010. In Conference Proceedings, 2010, p. 32-3

Anticipation and transfer of expert pattern perception

Conference Theme: Meeting New Challenges and Bridging Cultural Gaps in Sport and Exercise PsychologyINTRODUCTION: When an observer views a moving object that is abruptly halted, the human perceptual system continues to extrapolate the object’s movement, predicting it’s likely pathway and misrepresenting the final stopping point as being further along the original trajectory (Freyd & Johnson, 1987). This extrapolation of the temporal features is typically referred to as “representational momentum” (Freyd, 1987; Freyd & Finke, 1984; Intraub, 2002). It has been suggested that this phenomenon occurs because participants anticipate the trajectory of the object and remember that object by integrating its predicted motion with perceptions of its implied acceleration and velocity (Didierjean & Marmèche, 2005; Finke, Freyd, & Shyi, 1986). This anticipatory trace is then stored in memory and can be accessed for subsequent recall and recognition …postprin

A Taylor method for numerical solution of generalized pantograph equations with linear functional argument

AbstractThis paper is concerned with a generalization of a functional differential equation known as the pantograph equation which contains a linear functional argument. In this paper, we introduce a numerical method based on the Taylor polynomials for the approximate solution of the pantograph equation with retarded case or advanced case. The method is illustrated by studying the initial value problems. The results obtained are compared by the known results

Increasing difficulty but not decreasing performance: maintained interception with increments in visual blur

Conference Theme: Meeting New Challenges and Bridging Cultural Gaps in Sport and Exercise PsychologyINTRODUCTION: In an earlier study on the relationship between visual blur and interceptive skill (Mann, Ho, De Souza, Watson, & Taylor, 2007) it was observed that interceptive performance can be maintained despite the introduction of significant refractive visual blur. Mann et al. found that contact lenses simulating legally-blind levels of short-sightedness were required (6/60 or 20/200 acuity) before any subjectively assessed decrease in skilled performance could be measured when intercepting balls pitched by a projection machine in the sport of cricket. Several of the participants reported a preference for taking part with low levels of visual blur as a means of focusing concentration and visual attention, raising the possibility that rather than decreasing performance, training with blurred vision may provide an opportunity to enhance skill acquisition. The aim of this study was to extend the protocol of Mann et …postprin

Acute Effects of Static Stretching on Passive Stiffness of the Hamstrings in Healthy Young and Older Women

Static stretching is often performed prior to exercise to increase range of motion (ROM) and reduce passive stiffness of the muscle-tendon unit. A decrease in passive stiffness after stretching is believed to reduce the risk of injury and improve athletic performance. Previous research has demonstrated that an acute bout of static stretching was effective at decreasing passive stiffness in older men. However, to our knowledge, no previous research has examined the acute effects of static stretching on passive stiffness in older women, nor have there been any studies that have compared these effects with a younger female population. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of static stretching on passive stiffness of the hamstrings in healthy young and older women. METHODS: Fifteen young (23 ± 4 years) and 15 older (73 ± 5 years) healthy women underwent two passive knee extension assessments before (Pre) and after (Post) two randomized conditions that included a control treatment (quiet resting for two min) and an experimental treatment of static stretching. During the passive knee extension, participants were seated in an upright position with restraining straps placed over the shoulders and right thigh. Each knee extension assessment was administered using a calibrated isokinetic dynamometer programmed in passive mode to extend the leg at 5°∙s-1. All passive knee extensions were performed on the right leg to the point of discomfort but not pain as indicated by the participant, which was regarded as the maximum ROM. Once maximum ROM was reached, the leg was then immediately returned to the baseline position, which was a knee joint angle of 80° below full extension. Passive stiffness (Nm·º-1) was calculated during each knee extension assessment as the final slope of the tangent to the angle-torque curve. For the experimental treatment, four 15-s static stretches were completed in the same manner as the passive knee extension assessments; however, when maximum ROM was reached, the leg was held at this position for 15 s. Each 15-s stretch was separated by 15 s of rest. RESULTS: Passive stiffness (collapsed across group) was lower (P = 0.007) at Post (0.63 ± 0.18 Nm·º-1) compared to Pre (0.72 ± 0.18 Nm·º-1) for the stretching treatment. There was no significant difference (P \u3e 0.999) in passive stiffness between the Pre (0.72 ± 0.18 Nm·º-1) and Post (0.74 ± 0.28 Nm·º-1) time points for the control. The stretch-induced decrease in passive stiffness from Pre to Post was significantly greater (P = 0.049) for the old (-17%) compared to the younger (-5%) women. CONCLUSION: These findings showed that passive stiffness in young and older women decreased after four 15-s static stretches. The greater stretch-induced decrease in passive stiffness observed for the older women suggests that an acute bout of static stretching may be particularly beneficial for alleviating muscle tightness in the elderly. As a result, it may be advantageous for older adults to incorporate static stretching into their warm-up routine prior to exercise, as this may be used to reduce passive stiffness, which could help improve performance and reduce the risk of injury in this population