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JOURNAL
OF
SPORTS SCIENCE &
MEDICINE
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Research
article
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MONOCULAR AND BINOCULAR VISION IN THE PERFORMANCE OF A COMPLEX SKILL |
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Thomas Heinen1 
and Pia M. Vinken2 |
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1German Sport University, Cologne, 2Leibniz University Hannover, Germany |
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© Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2011) 10, 520 - 527 |
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| ABSTRACT | |||
| The goal of this study was to investigate the role of binocular
and monocular vision in 16 gymnasts as they perform a handspring on vault.
In particular we reasoned, if binocular visual information is eliminated
while experts and apprentices perform a handspring on vault, and their performance
level changes or is maintained, then such information must or must not be
necessary for their best performance. If the elimination of binocular vision
leads to differences in gaze behavior in either experts or apprentices,
this would answer the question of an adaptive gaze behavior, and thus if
this is a function of expertise level or not. Gaze behavior was measured
using a portable and wireless eye-tracking system in combination with a
movement-analysis system. Results revealed that gaze behavior differed between
experts and apprentices in the binocular and monocular conditions. In particular,
apprentices showed less fixations of longer duration in the monocular condition
as compared to experts and the binocular condition. Apprentices showed longer
blink duration than experts in both, the monocular and binocular conditions.
Eliminating binocular vision led to a shorter repulsion phase and a longer
second flight phase in apprentices. Experts exhibited no differences in
phase durations between binocular and monocular conditions. Findings suggest,
that experts may not rely on binocular vision when performing handsprings,
and movement performance maybe influenced in apprentices when eliminating
binocular vision. We conclude that knowledge about gaze-movement relationships
may be beneficial for coaches when teaching the handspring on vault in gymnastics. Key words: Experts-novice paradigm, gaze behavior, gymnastics. |
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