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Original Articles

Simply distracting learners is not enough: More evidence for the learning benefits of an external focus of attention

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Pages 1-13 | Published online: 09 Nov 2010

Keep up to date with the latest research on this topic with citation updates for this article.

Read on this site (18)

Nobar Vafaeimanesh, Rasool Abedanzadeh & Kevin Becker. (2023) Examining the effectiveness of focus of attention instructions on the learning of a badminton long serve in novice students: movement automaticity hypothesis. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology 0:0, pages 1-11.
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Devon K.T. Li, Toby C.T. Mak & Thomson W.L. Wong. (2022) Does an Externally Focused Dual-task Mitigate Real-time Conscious Postural Control in Older Adults?. Experimental Aging Research 48:3, pages 295-310.
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Gavin P. Lawrence, Jana Virian, Samuel J. Oliver & Victoria M. Gottwald. (2020) Lets go surfing now, everybody’s learning how; attentional strategies on expert and novice surfing performance under both practice and competition conditions. European Journal of Sport Science 20:2, pages 229-239.
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Saleh M. Aloraini, Geoffrey Gelley, Cheryl Glazebrook, Kathryn M. Sibley, Jonathan Singer & Steven Passmore. (2020) Motor Behavior Concepts in the Study of Balance: A Scoping Review. Journal of Motor Behavior 52:1, pages 97-121.
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Kara K. Palmer, Abigail L. Matsuyama, J. Megan Irwin, Jared M. Porter & Leah E. Robinson. (2017) The effect of attentional focus cues on object control performance in elementary children. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy 22:6, pages 580-588.
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Jon P. Maxwell, Catherine M. Capio & Rich S.W. Masters. (2017) Interaction between motor ability and skill learning in children: Application of implicit and explicit approaches. European Journal of Sport Science 17:4, pages 407-416.
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Jonathan L. Preston, Edwin Maas, Jessica Whittle, Megan C. Leece & Patricia McCabe. (2016) Limited acquisition and generalisation of rhotics with ultrasound visual feedback in childhood apraxia. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics 30:3-5, pages 363-381.
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Jia Yi Chow, Michael Koh, Keith Davids, Chris Button & Robert Rein. (2014) Effects of different instructional constraints on task performance and emergence of coordination in children. European Journal of Sport Science 14:3, pages 224-232.
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Anne Ille, Ingrid Selin, Manh-Cuong Do & Bernard Thon. (2013) Attentional focus effects on sprint start performance as a function of skill level. Journal of Sports Sciences 31:15, pages 1705-1712.
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Gabriele Wulf. (2013) Attentional focus and motor learning: a review of 15 years. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology 6:1, pages 77-104.
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Nancy McNevin, Patricia Weir & Tiffany Quinn. (2013) Effects of Attentional Focus and Age on Suprapostural Task Performance and Postural Control. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 84:1, pages 96-103.
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DavidC. Marchant, Matt Greig, Jonathan Bullough & Daniel Hitchen. (2011) Instructions to Adopt an External Focus Enhance Muscular Endurance. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 82:3, pages 466-473.
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GavinP. Lawrence, VickyM. Gottwald, James Hardy & MichaelA. Khan. (2011) Internal and External Focus of Attention in a Novice Form Sport. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 82:3, pages 431-441.
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Gabriele Wulf & JanetS. Dufek. (2009) Increased Jump Height with an External Focus Due to Enhanced Lower Extremity Joint Kinetics. Journal of Motor Behavior 41:5, pages 401-409.
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Gabriele Wulf. (2008) Attentional Focus Effects in Balance Acrobats. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 79:3, pages 319-325.
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StephenM. Weiss, ArthurS. Reber & DavidR. Owen. (2008) The locus of focus: The effect of switching from a preferred to a non-preferred focus of attention. Journal of Sports Sciences 26:10, pages 1049-1057.
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Gabriele Wulf & Jiang Su. (2007) An External Focus of Attention Enhances Golf Shot Accuracy in Beginners and Experts. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 78:4, pages 384-389.
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Gabriele Wulf, Thomas Töllner & CharlesH. Shea. (2007) Attentional Focus Effects as a Function of Task Difficulty. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 78:3, pages 257-264.
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Articles from other publishers (38)

Ines Jentzsch & Yukiko Braun. (2022) Effects of attention focus instructions on amateur piano performance. Psychology of Music 51:2, pages 579-591.
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Kristine E. Galek, Ed M. Bice & Katie Allen. (2023) Influence of Three Feedback Conditions on Performing a Swallow Motor Pattern in Healthy Adults. Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica 75:1, pages 13-22.
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Julia Hussien & Diane Ste-Marie. (2023) The Path to Translating Focus of Attention Research Into Canadian Physiotherapy, Part 1: Physiotherapists’ Self-Reported Focus of Attention Use Via a Study-Specific Questionnaire. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, pages 1-14.
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Elena Mussini, Valentina Bianco, Sabrina Pitzalis & Francesco Di Russo. (2022) Modulation of neurocognitive functions associated with action preparation and early stimulus processing by response-generated feedback. Biological Psychology 172, pages 108360.
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Svetlana Wähnert & Gisela Müller-Plath. (2021) Empirical Evidence for the Functionality Hypothesis in Motor Learning: The Effect of an Attentional Focus Is Task Dependent. Psych 3:4, pages 868-889.
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Emily Balcetis, Corey Guenther, Joshua Pesantes & Shana Cole. (2021) Where you look and how far you go: The relationship between attentional styles and running performance. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology 2, pages 100014.
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Kevin A. Becker & Cheng-Ju Hung. (2020) Attentional focus influences sample entropy in a balancing task. Human Movement Science 72, pages 102631.
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Felicity Blackstock & Shane Pritchard. 2020. Enhancing Patient Engagement in Pulmonary Healthcare. Enhancing Patient Engagement in Pulmonary Healthcare 27 40 .
John R. Harry, Ryan Lanier, Brandon Nunley & Jarrod Blinch. (2019) Focus of attention effects on lower extremity biomechanics during vertical jump landings. Human Movement Science 68, pages 102521.
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Scott Bonnette, Christopher A. DiCesare, Adam W. Kiefer, Michael A. Riley, Kim D. Barber Foss, Staci Thomas, Katie Kitchen, Jed A. Diekfuss & Gregory D. Myer. (2019) Injury Risk Factors Integrated Into Self-Guided Real-Time Biofeedback Improves High-Risk Biomechanics. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation 28:8, pages 831-839.
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Fatemeh Sharafian, Mehdi Shahbazi & Shahzad Tahmasebi Boroujeni. (2019) Effect of Technical and Quiet Eye Training on the Gaze Behavior and Long-Term Learning of Volleyball Serve Reception in 10 to 12-Year-Old Female. International Journal of School Health 6:3.
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Abbigail L. Fietzer, Carolee J. Winstein & Kornelia Kulig. (2018) Changing one’s focus of attention alters the structure of movement variability. Human Movement Science 62, pages 14-24.
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Tayebeh Baniasadi, Mehdi Namazizadeh & Mahmoud Sheikh. (2018) Attentional Focus can affect Sway in Postural and Supra-postural Tasks in Community-Dwelling Older Adults. Annals of Applied Sport Science 6:3, pages 31-37.
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Nicklaas C. Winkelman. (2018) Attentional Focus and Cueing for Speed Development. Strength & Conditioning Journal 40:1, pages 13-25.
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Natalie Richer, Deanna Saunders, Nadia Polskaia & Yves Lajoie. (2017) The effects of attentional focus and cognitive tasks on postural sway may be the result of automaticity. Gait & Posture 54, pages 45-49.
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Hironori Seiki, Motoyoshi Morishita, Issei Hironaka, Ryousuke Ueda & Mikihiko Harada. (2017) Differences in the improvement rating for the cross test related to practice methods differing in the direction of attention. Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine 66:4, pages 301-309.
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Jonathan L. A. de Melker Worms, John F. Stins, Erwin E. H. van Wegen, Ian D. Loram & Peter J. Beek. (2017) Influence of focus of attention, reinvestment and fall history on elderly gait stability. Physiological Reports 5:1, pages e13061.
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Jong W. Kim, Christopher Dancy, Benjamin Goldberg & Robert Sottilare. 2017. Augmented Cognition. Enhancing Cognition and Behavior in Complex Human Environments. Augmented Cognition. Enhancing Cognition and Behavior in Complex Human Environments 162 174 .
Marina Tsetseli, Eleni Zetou, Nikos Vernadakis & Maria Michalopoulou. (2016) The effect of internal and external focus of attention on game performance in tennis. Acta Gymnica 46:4, pages 162-173.
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Cheryl Coker. 2016. Motor Learning and Control for Practitioners. Motor Learning and Control for Practitioners 41 72 .
Keith R. Lohse, David E. Sherwood & Alice F. Healy. (2014) On the advantage of an external focus of attention: A benefit to learning or performance?. Human Movement Science 33, pages 120-134.
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William M. Land, Cornelia Frank & Thomas Schack. (2014) The influence of attentional focus on the development of skill representation in a complex action. Psychology of Sport and Exercise 15:1, pages 30-38.
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Douglas F. Roth & Katherine Verdolini Abbott. 2014. Teaching Singing in the 21st Century. Teaching Singing in the 21st Century 69 89 .
Kevin Becker & Peter J. K. Smith. (2013) Age, Task Complexity, and Sex as Potential Moderators of Attentional Focus Effects. Perceptual and Motor Skills 117:1, pages 130-144.
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Keith R. Lohse & David E. Sherwood. (2012) Thinking about muscles: The neuromuscular effects of attentional focus on accuracy and fatigue. Acta Psychologica 140:3, pages 236-245.
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Isabelle Stoate & Gabriele Wulf. (2011) Does the Attentional Focus Adopted by Swimmers Affect Their Performance?. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching 6:1, pages 99-108.
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Andrea Michele Freudenheim, Gabriele Wulf, Fabrício Madureira, Silmara Cristina Pasetto & Umberto César Corrěa. (2010) An External Focus of Attention Results in Greater Swimming Speed. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching 5:4, pages 533-542.
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Edwin Maas. (2010) Conditions of Practice and Feedback in Treatment for Apraxia of Speech. Perspectives on Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders 20:3, pages 80-86.
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Gabriele Wulf, Janet S. Dufek, Leonardo Lozano & Christina Pettigrew. (2010) Increased jump height and reduced EMG activity with an external focus. Human Movement Science 29:3, pages 440-448.
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C. Ferrel-Chapus & P. K. Tahej. (2010) Processus attentionnels et apprentissage moteur. Science & Motricité:71, pages 71-83.
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David Marchant. (2008) Attentional focus and golf performance. Sport & Exercise Psychology Review 4:2, pages 16-21.
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Edwin Maas, Donald A. Robin, Shannon N. Austermann Hula, Skott E. Freedman, Gabriele Wulf, Kirrie J. Ballard & Richard A. Schmidt. (2008) Principles of Motor Learning in Treatment of Motor Speech Disorders. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 17:3, pages 277-298.
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Gabriele Wulf, Tiffany Zachry, Carolina Granados & Janet S. Dufek. (2016) Increases in Jump-and-Reach Height through an External Focus of Attention. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching 2:3, pages 275-284.
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Felix Ehrlenspiel & Heiko Maurer. (2007) Aufmerksamkeitslenkung beim sportmotorischen Lernen. Zeitschrift für Sportpsychologie 14:3, pages 114-122.
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Yocheved Laufer, Nirit Rotem-Lehrer, Zohar Ronen, Giora Khayutin & Ilanit Rozenberg. (2007) Effect of Attention Focus on Acquisition and Retention of Postural Control Following Ankle Sprain. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 88:1, pages 105-108.
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Tiffany Zachry, Gabriele Wulf, John Mercer & Neil Bezodis. (2005) Increased movement accuracy and reduced EMG activity as the result of adopting an external focus of attention. Brain Research Bulletin 67:4, pages 304-309.
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Merrill Landers, Gabriele Wulf, Harvey Wallmann & Mark Guadagnoli. (2005) An external focus of attention attenuates balance impairment in patients with Parkinson's disease who have a fall history. Physiotherapy 91:3, pages 152-158.
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Tayebeh Baniasadi, Mehdi Namazizadeh & Mahmoud Sheikh. (2022) Attentional Focus can affect Sway in Postural and Supra-postural Tasks in Community-Dwelling Older Adults. SSRN Electronic Journal.
Crossref

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