Effects of Virtual and Real-World Quiet Eye Training on Visuomotor Learning in Novice Dart Throwing

Quiet eye training, a technique focused on optimizing gaze behavior during critical moments, has shown potential for enhancing motor skill acquisition. This study investigates the effects of quiet eye training in both virtual and real-world environments on dart-throwing learning. The participants consisted of 45 female students who were randomly divided into three groups: a control group (age: M = 22.46 ± 2.89), real-world (age: M = 23.80 ± 2.75), and virtual quiet eye training groups (age: M = 24.33 ± 2.25). The training sessions spanned 2 days, with each session consisting of 60 dart throws divided into 20 blocks of three trials each. The virtual group used an Xbox Kinect motion sensor to throw virtual darts, while the real-world group threw real darts at a dartboard. Both experimental groups followed specific visual training protocols. The control group, on the other hand, threw real darts at a dartboard without receiving any visual training. Results showed that both experimental groups enhanced QE duration, but only the real-world group significantly improved throwing accuracy. These results highlight the importance of sensory information specific to the task in motor learning, supporting the specificity of practice hypothesis.