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Why does the Quiet Eye improve aiming accuracy? Testing a motor preparation hypothesis with brain potential

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Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the Quiet Eye (QE) acquired over time is associated with motor preparation processes by using movement-related cortical potentials (MRCPs). Eighteen male, right-handed college students voluntarily participated in this study. Participants performed a dart throw while wearing an eye-tracking system and electrode cap to measure electroencephalogram waveforms (EEG). After performing the dart task, participants were randomly assigned to a Quiet Eye training group (QET) or control training group (CT). Six subjects were excluded due to incomplete electroencephalography (EEG) data. MRCPs were analysed separately within 4 QE categories: High performance score and Long fixation time (HL), High performance score and Short fixation time (HS), Low performance score and Long fixation time (LL), and Low performance score and Short fixation time (LS). Results revealed that although the QET group acquired QE characteristics, MRCPs did not differ between the two groups. Thus, a longer-term experimental design may be necessary to observe EEG changes. Furthermore, QE durations may relate to not only motor programming but also online control.

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Acknowledgements

We sincerely appreciate the eighteen male college students who participated in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sports and Health Science, Fukuoka University, 8-19-1 Nanakuma, Jyounann, Fukuoka, Japan

    Yuuki Mizusaki

  2. Faculty of Physical Education, National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, 1, Shiromizu, Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan

    Sachi Ikudome, Kisho Ogasa, Shiro Mori & Hiroki Nakamoto

  3. Japan Institute of Sports Sciences, 3-15-1, Nishigaoka, Kita, Tokyo, Japan

    Yasumitsu Ishii

  4. School of Lifelong Sports, Hokusho University, 23 Bunkyodai, Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Japan

    Satoshi Unenaka

  5. Graduate School of Physical Education, Doctor’s Course, National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, 1, Shiromizu, Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan

    Taishi Funo & Tatsuya Takeuchi

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  1. Yuuki Mizusaki
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  2. Sachi Ikudome
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  3. Yasumitsu Ishii
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  4. Satoshi Unenaka
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  5. Taishi Funo
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  6. Tatsuya Takeuchi
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  7. Kisho Ogasa
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  8. Shiro Mori
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  9. Hiroki Nakamoto
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Correspondence to Yuuki Mizusaki.

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Authors declare that there is no conflict of interests relevant to the content of this paper.

Ethical standard

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki.

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Mizusaki, Y., Ikudome, S., Ishii, Y. et al. Why does the Quiet Eye improve aiming accuracy? Testing a motor preparation hypothesis with brain potential. Cogn Process 20, 55–64 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-018-0890-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-018-0890-5

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