Cognitive control in motor expertise

Abstract This article examines cognitive control in motor expertise. Extensive research in sport domains has shown that adult experts exhibit superior response selection performance (tactical decision making) as well as superior motor skill execution. Two mechanisms that contribute to expert performance are problem representations and gaze behavior strategies. These mechanisms are reviewed in terms of their development and role in expert performances in sport domains. Also, methodologies designed to capture these mechanisms are discussed. An experiment is presented in volleyball to demonstrate how athletes' problem representations (verbal behaviors) and their gaze behaviors can be assessed during an actual performance task and how this experiment and others like it may enhance our understanding of cognitive control in motor expertise.