Relationships between Attention Focus, Heart Rate Variability and Performance during Air-Pistol Shooting

• Main Authors: Chien-tseng Lin, 林建增
• Other Authors: Tsung-min Hung
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/48024500532605647260

碩士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 體育學系在職進修碩士班 === 99 === Purpose: This study aimed to examine the relationships between attention focus, heart rare variability and shooting performance. Methods: An elite male high-school air pistol shooter participated in the study. The participant was asked to shoot 80 times under a regular practicing situation and a simulation competition. Under each situation, the shooter fired 20 times by using an internal and external attentional strategy, respectively. Shooting scores and heart rate variability [low-frequency LF (0.04-0.15 Hz), high frequency HF (0.15-0.4 Hz), low/high frequency ratio (LF/HF)] were recorded. Two-way ANOVAs were utilized to analyze the effects of attentional strategy and situation on HRV and performance. Results: For performance, the shooter showed higher score under the regular practicing situation than the competition situation (F = 4.41, p < .05, η2 = .098). Additionally, in heart rate variability, no interaction and main effects of attention focus and situation were found at the low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF). However, a significant interaction was found in the LF/HF (F = 5.44, p < .05, η2 = .232). While using an external attentional strategy, higher LF/HF ratio was observed under the regular practicing situation than the competition situation (t = 2.795, p < .05). Conclusion: Regardless of internal or external attention focus, athletic performance seems to be easily hindered by competitive pressure that causes individuals to not concentrate enough to correctly direct their attention to an appropriate target. In the interpretation of LF/HF, external attention focus may indirectly promote individuals’ better balance in the autonomic nervous system, which is the key to successful performance. Although the results of this study are not consistent with the hypothesis, the possible influence of the parasympathetic nervous system on attention may not be completely denied. In the future, the relationship between HRV and attention focus is needed to further verify as researchers illuminate the interrupting factors that affect attention.