The Effect of Internal and External Focus of Attention on EEG Changes in Darts Throwing Skill

The purpose of present study, was to examine the effects of internal and external focus of attention on EEG changes in darts throwing skill. 14 students of Tehran Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University (6 female and 8 male; mean age: 23.13 years) voluntarily participated in this study. Order of attentional strategy was counterbalanced across participants and they randomly divided into the two groups: one group is performed dart throwing internally, followed by external focus of attention, and the other use internal followed external focus of attention. Participants’ Brain Waves were recorded by EEG in three conditions, open eye resting and perform dart throw with internally and externally focus of attention and were transferred to quantitative data by Neuro-guide Software. Alpha and beta band cortical activity in central and parietal brain area were selected.
Findings: Results of repeated measures ANOVA revealed that log of absolute power of alpha band in externally focus of attention condition in C3 and in internally and externally focus of attention conditions in P3 and P4 brain areas were significantly lower than rest condition while there were no significant differences between two internal and external focus of attention conditions. In addition, log of absolute power of beta in internally focus of attention condition in P4 was significantly greater than externally focus of attention condition. Increasing beta power in P4 in internal focus of attention indicates greater focus on body movements during performance, which supports the superiority of internal focus of attention strategy in beginners