• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.51-59
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of attentional focus and distance of external focus on the performance of balance task of upper extremity. Subjects (N=30) held a stick (2 m) and maintained it horizontally. All of the subjects performed balance task of upper extremity under four different attentional focus conditions: focus on hand (internal focus), marker at 10 cm inside of hand (external focus 1), marker at 10 cm outside of hand (external focus 2), marker at 20 cm outside of hand (external focus 3). The mean velocity of the bar (mm/s) and the muscle activity of biceps brachii (%RVC) were measured. They were decreased when the subjects focused on external focuses compared to internal focus and decreased as distance of attentional focus from body increased (p<.05). There were significant differences between groups (p<.05); internal focus-external focus 1, internal focus-external focus 2, internal focus-external focus 3, external focus 2-external focus 3. These results showed that external focus is more effective than internal focus in enhancing motor performance and focusing on more distant attentional focus results in enhanced motor performance promoting the utilization of more automatic control mechanisms.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.327-333
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different types of attentional focus(internal focus vs. external focus) on the dart throwing mechanics. Seven expert dart throwing athletes were assigned to an internal focus group and other seven athletes were assigned to an external focus group. Each group was asked to throw dart either under verbal instruction or without instruction. During dart throwing, accuracy(radial error), consistency(bivariate variable error), dart velocity, acceleration, elbow joint ROM, elbow joint angular velocity, EMD(electromechanical delay), iEMG of biceps brachii and triceps brachii, and CI(coactivation index) were collected and analyzed. Nither instruction type nor instruction itself affected in accuracy and consistency. However, in dart velocity and acceleration, there was an interaction between instruction and attentional focus types. Velocity and acceleration increased in the internal condition, where as they decreased in the external condition. The ROM of elbow joint did not affected by instruction and attention type. However, similar to dart velocity and acceleration, angular velocity increased in internal focus group, while it decreased in external focus group. EMG showed no difference with any condition. In conclusion, internal focus is better than external focus for dart throwing.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.11-19
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• 2008

Studies of attentional focus effects, have shown that the performer's attentional focus plays an important role in the performance and learning of motor tasks. We examined the influence of attentional focus on the performance of dual tasks (a postural task and a suprapostural task) and used electromyography (EMG) to examine whether the differences between external and internal focus were also manifest at the neuromuscular level. The subjects (n=40) stood on a balance board (postural task) and held a bar horizontally (suprapostural task). All of the subjects performed under different attentional focus conditions: external (balancer on balance board) or internal (feet) focus on the postural task, and external (balancer on bar) or internal (hand) focus on the suprapostural task. The mean displacement velocity of the bar and the percent reference voluntary contraction (%RVC) of the biceps brachii were reduced when the subjects adopted an external focus on the suprapostural task (p<.05). In addition, the mean displacement velocity of the balance board and %RVC of the tibialis anterior were reduced when the subjects adopted an external focus on the postural task (p<.05). When the subjects adopted an external focus on the suprapostural task, the mean displacement velocity of the balance board and %RVC of the tibialis anterior were also reduced (p<.05). When the subjects' attentional focus was on the postural task, there were no differences in the mean displacement and %RVC of the biceps brachii between attentional focuses. The performance of each task was enhanced when subjects focused on the respective task. The suprapostural task goals had a stronger influence on postural control than vice versa. These results reflect the propensity of the motor system to optimize control processes based on the environmental outcome, or movement effect, that the performer wants to achieve.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.158-161
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• 2019

Objective: Attentional focus is one of the critical factors that has consistently been demonstrated to enhance motor performance and motor skill. Focusing attention on the inside of the body while engaging in a particular exercise is called internal focus (IF) and focus on the external environment is called external focus (EF). The purpose of this study was to identify effects of IF and EF of attention on postural balance in healthy school-aged children. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty-four healthy school-aged children participated in this study. School-aged children was defined as children ages 8-12 years old. They performed the one-legged standing with EF (focusing on the marker at the level of participants' chest and 150 cm away), IF (focusing the supporting feet), and control (no instruction) respectively. The order of the focus condition was randomly selected. The center of pressure (COP) range, distance, and velocity was measured to compare the effects of applying different attentional focuses in the three conditions. Results: The results of our study show that differences in COP range, distance, and velocity among groups were not significant between the different attentional focuses, although all variables of EF were smaller than IF. It is postulated that the reason for this may be that school school-aged children between 8-12 years old go through a transitional phase from IF to EF in effective motor learning. Conclusions: These findings reveal that the type of attentional focus did not have any effect on postural balance in healthy school-aged children.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.77-84
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to introduce the effect of attentional focus on performance of task. Previous studies has shown that motor learning can be enhanced by directing performers's attention to the effects of their movements(external focus), rather than to the body movement producing the effects(internal focus). Wulf and colleagues have invoked the 'constrained action hypothesis' to explain the comparative benefits of adopting an external rather than an internal focus of attention. This hypothesis proposed that when performers utilize an internal focus of attention, they may actually constrain or interfere with automatic control processes that would normally regulate the movement, whereas an external focus of attention allows the motor system to more naturally self-organize. Electromyography(EMG) was used to determine neuromuscular correlates of external versus internal focus differences. EMG activity was lower with an external relative to an internal focus. This suggest that an external focus of attention enhances movement economy, and presumably reduces 'noise' in the motor system that hampers fine movement control. Focusing on a more remote effect seems to facilitate the discriminability of the effect from the body movements that produced it and to be more beneficial than focusing on a very close effects. There might be an optimal distance of the effect, at which ti wis easily distinguishable from the body movement but at which it is also still possible for the performer to relate this effect to the movement techniques. Future Studies of motor learning of patient need to accommodate these new finding and account for the role of the learner's attentional focus and its influencing on learning.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.62-72
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• 2023

Objective: Although balance training has been used as an effective ankle injury rehabilitation program to restore neuromuscular deficits in patients with chronic ankle instability, it is not effectively used in terms of motor learning. Attentional focusing can be an effective method for improving ankle kinematics to prevent recurrent ankle injuries. This study aimed to 1) evaluate the effects of attentional focus, including internal and external focus, and 2) determine a more effective focusing method for patients with chronic ankle instability to learn balance tasks. Method: Twenty-four patients with chronic ankle instability were randomly assigned to three groups (external focus, internal focus, and no feedback) and underwent four weeks of progressive balance training. The three-dimensional ankle kinematics of each patient were measured before and after training as the main outcomes. Ensemble curve analysis, discrete point analysis, and post hoc pairwise comparisons were performed to identify interactions between groups and time. Results: The results showed that (1) the external focus group was more dorsiflexed and everted than the internal focus group; (2) the external focus group was more dorsiflexed than the no feedback group; and (3) the no feedback group was more dorsiflexed than the internal focus group. Conclusion: Because dorsiflexion and eversion are ankle motions that oppose the mechanism of lateral ankle sprain, using the external focus method during balance training may be more effective in modifying these motions, thereby reducing the risk of ankle sprain.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.287-303
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to describe infant and mother behaviors across situations. And, it was to examine the associations between infant's temperament and infant's patterns of attachment to their mother with mother-infant interaction. Results showed that there were significant main effects for the attentional focus of the situation and the level of regulatory challenge on observed mother-infant interaction behaviors. Also, mother and infant showed significant differences in their interaction behaviors depending on the patterns of infant temperzment and the patterns of infant-mother attachment.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.13-16
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• 2012

Objective: Electroencephalogram (EGG)-feedback is a training procedure aimed at altering brain activity, and is used as a treatment for disorders like attention. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of external focus of attention by EGG-feedback on balance in young adults. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Subject were students in Sahmyook University. Fifty young adults in their twenties and thirties. Subjects were performed both with and without external focus of attention by EEG-feedback on the posture of standing and tandem standing. Participants were educated effort to maintain static posture when they were under internal focus of attention. Good Balance System was used for measurement of postural consistency upon the following force platforms. Results: Body sway decreased significantly both normal standing and tandem standing with external focus of attention by EEG-feedback (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the benefits of an external attentional focus are generalizable to young adults. The external focus of attention outperformed the internal focus of attention on the postural balance (p<0.05). It is showed that external focus of attention significant effects on balance by revoked automatic postural control of movement. Furthermore balance might be improved by training with an external focus. Further study is required to develop for training as a method of preventing fall in elderly peoples.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.223-248
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• 2009

Previous research on the impact of pretask planning on subsequent second language (L2) production has mainly focused on the linguistic quality of planned production, while learners' thought processes and perceptions about planning have been relatively less explored. In addition, few previous planning studies have examined whether the learners did in fact follow the pretask instructions, thus leaving the role of pretask instructions in the planning process unexplored. Therefore, the present study investigated whether pretask instructions affect attentional allocation as well as what cognitive operations planners engage in and what their perceptions about planning are. Forty-three Korean EFL classroom learners were divided into two groups: before having time to plan for an oral story retelling task, one group received general instructions, while the other group received specific instructions. The findings, based on both quantitative and qualitative data analysis, indicated no large effects of pretask instructions on the planners' attentional focus. Rather, the qualitative analysis identified a number of other factors that influenced learners' decision making as well as their general processes and approaches to planning and their perceptions about planning and thinking aloud while planning. Implications for L2 teaching as well as limitations of the study are discussed.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.224-236
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• 2023

This study aims to investigate the effects of telepresence on young moviegoers' flow experiences and social interactions, and the impact on consumer delight, trust, and experience sharing behavior on cinema mobile social network site pages. Given the scarcity of telepresence research, indirect telepresence on experience sharing via two experiences and social interactions is also included. The study used pages from Korean cinema mobile social network sites, and 175 Chinese moviegoers residing in Korea participated. We found that telepresence positively impacts the activity in both human-human and human-computer interactions. We further contend that telepresence positively affects perceived enjoyment and attentional focus. However, perceived enjoyment does not significantly affect consumer delight. We found that consumer delight positively influences consumer trust and movie experience sharing. Moreover, we illustrated that telepresence significantly and indirectly influences consumer movie experience-sharing behavior through attention focus and consumer delight. Our results provide crucial insights for future study and practical managerial.