Advanced Technologies for Performance Enhancement in Sport Psychology

Perceptual-cognitive skills training provides a potentially valuable method for training athletes on fundamental skills, such as visual search, targets discrimination, anticipation, and decision-making (Ward et al., 2008). Several advanced technologies were found to target the assessment and the training of these skills in the sport arena. We introduce the utilization of four technologies deemed imperative for mental preparation: (1) Virtual Reality (VR) consisting of first-person perspective scenarios in which the athlete makes decisions while watching clear or occluded videos of their sport. The VR simulates actual game scenarios and has the potential to improve coincident decision-making in team sports (Gray, Cooke, McNeese, & McNabb, 2017), (2) Eye-Tracking technology which allows monitoring and training of visual cues, resulting in more efficient gaze behaviors in sports contexts (Feldman, et al., 2008), (3) Dynavision and the Fit-light technologies which engage the athlete in visual-motor tasks under time pressure. These enable training reaction time and peripheral awareness (Appelbaum & Erickson, 2016), and (4) Strobe glasses which present occluded visual input, resulting in increased ocular sensitization and improved visual skills under normal conditions (Appelbaum & Erickson, 2016). Overall, these technologies have the potential to facilitate decision-making processes and enhance performance. We present technologies which share scientific vigor and evidence along with domain-specific requirements.