Sport Psychology Lab

Dr. David Eccles meets with the research group one or two times per month. Current projects include:

• Understanding the Role of Rest in the Acquisition of Skilled Athletic Performance
• Testing Hypotheses Derived from the Deliberate Practice
• Conceptual Framework as it Relates to Athletes and Other Performers
• Testing the Efficacy of Interventions with Athletes and Other Performers Designed Based on Principles of Deliberate Practice
• Understanding the Cognitive Mechanisms by which Skilled Performers Circumvent Natural Information Processing Limitations

Richard, V., Lebeau, J. C., Becker, F., Inglis, E. R., & Tenenbaum, G. (2018). Do more creative people adapt better? An investigation into the association between creativity and adaptation. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 38, 80-89

Liu, S., Ritchie, J., Sáenz-Moncaleano, C., Ward, S. K., Paulsen, C., Klein, T., … & Tenenbaum, G. (2017). 3D technology of Sony Bloggie has no advantage in decision-making of tennis serve direction: A randomized placebo-controlled study. European Journal of Sport Science, 17, 603-610.

Sáenz-Moncaleano, C., Basevitch, I., & Tenenbaum, G. (2018). Gaze behaviors during serve returns in tennis: A comparison between intermediate and high-skill players. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 20, 1-11.

Lebeau, J. C., Gatten, H., Perry, I., Wang, Y., Sung, S., & Tenenbaum, G. (2018). Is failing the key to success? A randomized experiment investigating goal attainment effects on cognitions, emotions, and subsequent performance. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 38, 1-9.

Sarig, Y., Boiangin, N., Gatten, H., & Tenenbaum, G. (2018, June). Integrating technology and psychological skills training in athletes. Oral presentation at the 2018 International Wingate Congress of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Netanya, Israel.

Tenenbaum, G., Filho, E., Basevitch, I., Boiangin, N, Saenz, C., Bedard, R., Gatten, H., Retting, J., and Lebeau, J.C. (2017, July). The use of high-technologies in research and for performance enhancement. Oral presentation at the International Society of Sport Psychology 14^th World Congress (ISSP), Sevilla, Spain.

Boiangin, N., Meir, G., Lebeau, J.C., Basevitch, I., Todd, C., Liu, S., Cologgi, K., & Tenenbaum, G. (2017, July) Ironic or overcompensating error in golf putting: The importance of attention imbalance. Poster presentation at the International Society of Sport Psychology 14^th World Congress (ISSP), Sevilla, Spain.

Ritchie, J., Bird, M., Boiangin, N., & Becker, B. (2017, October). The influence of biases on officials’ sport-related decision-making: A meta-analysis. Poster presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), Orlando, FL.

The purpose of a Directed Individual Study (DIS) in the Sport Psychology Laboratory is to provide undergraduate students with an opportunity to gain experience in conducting research projects. Students will get a chance to familiarize themselves with the research process, including IRB submission, participant recruitment and testing, and qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. Additionally, students will learn how various innovative technologies can be used to enhance research projects such as eye-tracking, biofeedback, and visual perception technologies.

Requirements

• Available to work in the lab 9 hours per week (3 credits)
• Motivated to learn about issues and research related to sport and exercise
• Able to work in a team setting

Main supervisor: Dr. David Eccles

Below are examples of equipment available in the lab for research, practice, and teaching in the field of sport psychology.

Biofeedback (Procomp Infinity)

Researchers and consultants can use Thought Technology’s biofeedback system to measure athletes’ physiological functions. For example, one can measure and analyze different variables such as: Skin Conductance Response (SCR), Heart Rate Variability (HRV), Electroencephalogram (EEG), Electromyography (EMG), and Temperature among others.

www.thoughttechnology.com

Eye-Tracking (Mobile Eye XG)

The Mobile Eye XG from the Applied Science Laboratories (ASL) makes it possible to implement eye-tracking technology in research and applied work. The technology provides objective measurements of where an athlete is gazing (location), how long they are gazing at a certain location (duration), as well as the amount of times they gaze upon a certain point or section (frequency). The Mobile Eye XG system can be used while the athlete is stationary or is mobile in their natural sport environment (wireless mode).

Vicon Bonita 10 Motion Analysis System

The motion analysis system allows to record and analyze the movement of selected objects or body parts by using special reflectors. It gives information about the dimensional location of the reflectors as well as information about the acceleration and velocity. This gives us crucial data regarding motor learning and motor performance.

https://www.vicon.com/products/archived-products/bonita

Cognionics EEG Dry Headset

The EEG dry cap allows us to measure brain activity associated with sport and exercise performance. Due to its mobility, athletes and exercisers can move around and perform tasks related to their field while wearing the technology. This gives us the opportunity to record and measure brain activity while physical activity is being performed.

https://www.cognionics.net/

Parvomedics TrueOne 2400 VO2MAX system   

The TrueOne 2400 metabolic measurement cart evaluates gas exchange and ventilatory parameters during exercise endurance tests. The system is synchronized with a programmable Velotron cycle ergometer and Polar Heart Rate monitor. It provides a reliable and valid results for the measurement of cardio and exertion and is being used to study the psychological mechanisms of aerobic exercise and exertion.

http://www.parvo.com/

META Oculus Rift Virtual Reality (VR)

The Meta Oculus Rift offers an immersive experience in virtual reality environments. It is being used for research and applied purposes to allow us to work with athletes in a virtual representation of their sport or exercise environment without leaving the lab.

https://www.meta.com/quest

Dynavision D2

The Dynavision D2 system allows athletes to train their perceptual vision. As a result, athletes can improve their peripheral awareness and process multiple tasks more efficiently and rapidly.

Neurotracker

The Neurotracker is a multiple object-tracking simulation in a 3-dimensional environment. It can be used for different perceptual tasks that involve sustained attention, divided attention and attentional allocation. It allows us to create cognitive-perceptual tasks that are relevant to different types of sport and is being used both in research and applied settings with athletes.

https://neurotracker.net/

The Nike SPARQ Vapor Strobe Eyewear

The Nike SPARQ Vapor Strobe Eyewear occludes the athlete’s vision at different frequencies. This allows athletes to work on their perceptual vision, and improve their decision making and anticipation skills.