Original scientific paper

Adopting an external focus of attention facilitates motor learning in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Esmaeel Saemi orcid.org/0000-0003-2265-9482 ; Department of Sport Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
Jared Porter ; Department of Kinesiology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA
Gabriele Wulf ; Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA
Ahmad Ghotbi–Varzaneh ; Department of Sport Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran
Sabah Bakhtiari ; Department of Sport Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate if children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) would show enhanced motor skill learning with instructions to adopt an external focus of
attention (i.e. on the movement effect) rather than an internal focus (i.e. on the movements themselves). The task involved throwing tennis balls with the dominant arm at a circular target that was placed on the floor at a distance of three meters. Twenty children with ADHD, ranging in age from 8 to 11 years, were randomly assigned to either an external or internal focus group. Participants performed 180 practice trials with focus instructions and reminders before each block of 30 trials. Learning was assessed 48 hours after practice. The external focus group demonstrated more effective learning than the internal focus group. This finding has implications for applied settings that involve sports or physical activity with children who have ADHD.

Keywords

attentional focus; motor skills; throwing; ADHD

Hrčak ID:

112760

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/112760

Publication date:

31.12.2013.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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