Video Version
Why Mindfulness Works
If you focus on your breathing, you are in the moment, because your breathing is right here, right now. That's where most athletes fail under pressure. You go beyond the moment, you go into the future. You think about the end result.
Why External Focus Isn’t Always Better
Whichever focus queue has more task-relevant information will be better.
Finding Task-Relevant Information
There's a lot of good information in the external environment, but you could also find some relevant information internally in your body. It could depend on the task and it could depend on who you are.
Timestamp
1:20 — Personal & Professional Background
4:37 — Internal vs. External Focus
7:00 — Flaws In External vs. Internal Focus Research
13:16 — Key Findings of Focus of Attention Research
17:50 — Implications For Golfers and Coaches
19:23 — Cognitive Load & Mental Effort
24:08 — Key Findings of Cognitive Load & Mental Effort Research
28:55 — Impact of Distractions on Golfers
32:27 — Key Findings of Impact of Distractions on Golfers Research
35:55 — Impact of Dual Task on Golf Performance
41:41 — Current State of Research on Focus of Attention
43:34 — What’s Something You’ve Changed Your Mind About Over Your Career?
45:23 — Book Recommendations
48:07 — Current Projects
49:24 — Impact of Viktor Hovland on Norwegian Golf
Resources
Book Recommendation #1: Handbook of Embodied Cognition and Sport Psychology
Book Recommendation #2: Your Erroneous Zones
Book Recommendation #3: Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success
Paper #2: Cognitive load causes kinematic changes in both elite and non-elite rowers
Paper #3: Mental Effort in Elite and Nonelite Rowers
Papers Showing Better Effect of Internal Focus: Link #1 & Link #2
Paper Showing Importance of Athlete’es Preferred Focus of Attention: Link
About Dr. Henrik Herrebrøden
Henrik Herrebrøden is a sport psychologist and researcher based in Oslo,
Norway. For the last ten years, he has worked with athletes from a range
of different sports. He recently completed his PhD in psychology at the
University of Oslo, where he investigated attention in elite athletes.
He is currently an Assistant Professor at Kristiania University College.
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Henrik-Herrebroden
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=no&user=RUzwMR0AAAAJ
Practitioner website: http://www.henrikh.no
Focus of Attention w/ Dr. Henrik Herrebrøden