Visual Search Strategies of Elite Fencers: An Exploratory Study in Ecological Competitive Situation
This study investigates the visual activity of fencers in conditions resembling official competitions. Previous research in experimental conditions has shown that experts focus on specific areas of the torso and the armed arm to control movement initiation. Eight right-handed fencers (epee: two male...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/8/3/106 |
| _version_ | 1827725752203739136 |
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| author | Pierre Bagot Jean F. Fournier Thibault Kerivel Cyril Bossard Gilles Kermarrec Guillaume Martinent Marjorie Bernier |
| author_facet | Pierre Bagot Jean F. Fournier Thibault Kerivel Cyril Bossard Gilles Kermarrec Guillaume Martinent Marjorie Bernier |
| author_sort | Pierre Bagot |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the visual activity of fencers in conditions resembling official competitions. Previous research in experimental conditions has shown that experts focus on specific areas of the torso and the armed arm to control movement initiation. Eight right-handed fencers (epee: two males, one female; foil: one male; sabre: two males, two females) participated in a simulated competition, wearing an eye tracker during one bout. The findings showed that the main fixation in foil and sabre is the upper torso, while in epee, it is the lower torso. In epee and sabre, the upper torso is viewed about 50% of the time, with three other areas also observed, while in foil, the fixation is totally directed to the upper torso. Additionally, two new areas of interest were identified: the score machine and an area involving fixations other than the opponent. The study found no direct link between visual activity and performance. The visual search strategy varies among weapons, with foil using a gaze anchor or foveal spot and epee and sabre utilizing a visual pivot due to the discipline’s inherent rules. The study also emphasizes that competition-like conditions can disrupt visual activity with external stimuli, possibly affecting performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:36:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-25b2859eae40466b8a2dfa4babc3dfde |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2411-5142 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:36:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-25b2859eae40466b8a2dfa4babc3dfde2023-11-19T11:24:01ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology2411-51422023-07-018310610.3390/jfmk8030106Visual Search Strategies of Elite Fencers: An Exploratory Study in Ecological Competitive SituationPierre Bagot0Jean F. Fournier1Thibault Kerivel2Cyril Bossard3Gilles Kermarrec4Guillaume Martinent5Marjorie Bernier6Centre de Recherche sur l’Éducation, l’Apprentissage et la Didactique, University Brest, F-29200 Brest, FranceLaboratoire Interdisciplinaire en Neurosciences, Physiologie et Psychologie: Activité Physique, Santé et Apprentissages, University Paris Nanterre, F-92001 Nanterre, FranceCentre de Recherche sur l’Éducation, l’Apprentissage et la Didactique, University Brest, F-29200 Brest, FranceCentre de Recherche sur l’Éducation, l’Apprentissage et la Didactique, University Brest, F-29200 Brest, FranceCentre de Recherche sur l’Éducation, l’Apprentissage et la Didactique, University Brest, F-29200 Brest, FranceLaboratoire sur les Vulnérabilités et l’Innovation dans le Sport, University Lyon 1, F-69622 Lyon, FranceCentre de Recherche sur l’Éducation, l’Apprentissage et la Didactique, University Brest, F-29200 Brest, FranceThis study investigates the visual activity of fencers in conditions resembling official competitions. Previous research in experimental conditions has shown that experts focus on specific areas of the torso and the armed arm to control movement initiation. Eight right-handed fencers (epee: two males, one female; foil: one male; sabre: two males, two females) participated in a simulated competition, wearing an eye tracker during one bout. The findings showed that the main fixation in foil and sabre is the upper torso, while in epee, it is the lower torso. In epee and sabre, the upper torso is viewed about 50% of the time, with three other areas also observed, while in foil, the fixation is totally directed to the upper torso. Additionally, two new areas of interest were identified: the score machine and an area involving fixations other than the opponent. The study found no direct link between visual activity and performance. The visual search strategy varies among weapons, with foil using a gaze anchor or foveal spot and epee and sabre utilizing a visual pivot due to the discipline’s inherent rules. The study also emphasizes that competition-like conditions can disrupt visual activity with external stimuli, possibly affecting performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/8/3/106fencingvisual search strategiescompetitive situationeye trackingelite |
| spellingShingle | Pierre Bagot Jean F. Fournier Thibault Kerivel Cyril Bossard Gilles Kermarrec Guillaume Martinent Marjorie Bernier Visual Search Strategies of Elite Fencers: An Exploratory Study in Ecological Competitive Situation Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology fencing visual search strategies competitive situation eye tracking elite |
| title | Visual Search Strategies of Elite Fencers: An Exploratory Study in Ecological Competitive Situation |
| title_full | Visual Search Strategies of Elite Fencers: An Exploratory Study in Ecological Competitive Situation |
| title_fullStr | Visual Search Strategies of Elite Fencers: An Exploratory Study in Ecological Competitive Situation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Visual Search Strategies of Elite Fencers: An Exploratory Study in Ecological Competitive Situation |
| title_short | Visual Search Strategies of Elite Fencers: An Exploratory Study in Ecological Competitive Situation |
| title_sort | visual search strategies of elite fencers an exploratory study in ecological competitive situation |
| topic | fencing visual search strategies competitive situation eye tracking elite |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/8/3/106 |
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