Embodied perception in sport

Abstract

Embodied perception theory proposes that rather than being solely determined by the physical properties of the world, our perception of the objects in our environment is scaled by our ability to interact with them. On the surface, this idea is consistent with the common observation of highly skilled athletes that targets look bigger and/or move more slowly when performance level is high. In this review, I first examine recent empirical evidence that supports the idea that the perception of objects in the sporting environment is embodied. I next consider the specific mechanisms underlying embodiment in sport and discuss its potential functional value for athletes in terms of action selection. Finally, I explore how embodied perception might be exploited on a practical level to improve skill acquisition and evaluate training programs in sport.

Keywords:

• embodied perception
• expertise
• motor control

Notes

1. Joe ‘Ducky’ Medwick once claimed that being in a slump in baseball was like ‘swinging at aspirins’ (Bradley, 2003).

2. This article focuses solely on perceptual processes. For a complimentary examination of embodied cognition in sport, see Beilock (2008).

3. This relationship between action capability and movement initiation time introduces an alternative possible explanation for some of the action-specific effects reported in previous studies. Specifically, performers who can wait longer to initiate a movement (e.g. goalkeepers with shorter lateral movement times or baseball batters with higher bat speeds) will in most cases begin moving when the ball is closer to them, i.e., projects a larger retinal image. Could this difference in ball distance explain the effect of skill on perceived size? Similarly, differences in the gaze behavior of baseball players could possibly explain the action-specific effects reported by Witt and Proffitt (2005) and Gray (2013). Namely, it has been shown that more skilled batters can follow the ball with smooth pursuit eye movements for a greater distance than lesser skilled batters, therefore when the ball is last seen clearly in focal vision it will be larger for a skilled batter (Bahill & LaRitz, 1984). It will be important for future research to investigate the possible role of these mechanisms in action-specific effects by varying the physical size of the balls used and/or tracking eye movements.