Examining the Influence of Ambient Sounds on Visual Attention and Search Performance

Abstract

In sports competitions, ambient sounds, such as audience cheering and booing, can influence athletes’ performance, either positively or negatively. Cheering is typically seen as supportive and performance-enhancing, while booing is perceived as depressing. This study investigates the effects of cheering and booing on attention and performance. Visual observation is crucial in many sports, where athletes assess situations and make decisions. This process demands increased attention and significantly impacts the outcome of the game. The study uses different levels of visual search tasks to simulate the observational phase of sports, with an eye-tracker to record participants’ gaze behaviors. Three sound environments were established: positive cheering, negative booing, and silence. Analysis of Time to First Fixation indicated that in both high-difficulty and low-difficulty tasks, participants’ search speeds were significantly slower in the cheering and booing conditions compared to silence. Moreover, in high-difficulty tasks, positive cheering disrupted performance more than negative booing. Further analysis of Average Fixation Duration revealed no significant difference between cheering and booing in terms of cognitive load on participants, suggesting that the interference caused by sound is due to attention disruption rather than cognitive overload. The study’s findings provide quantitative and precise data via eye-tracking technology. These results offer scientific insights for enhancing training and competition environments to help athletes perform better. Additionally, the findings suggest that audiences should minimize their interference with athletes by refraining from making noise during moments requiring high concentration in the game.