Age Differences in Heart Rate Patterns During Concentration in a Precision Sport: Implications for Attentional Functioning

Abstract

Highly skilled young (M = 29.5 years) and older (M = 50.0 years) miniature golf players were observed in relaxed training and high-arousal competition rounds. Motor performance (number of shots), subjective ratings of anxiety, and heart rate were registered. Results showed a similar increase of arousal from training to competition for both age groups. However, the older group deteriorated in motor performance from training to competition, whereas the younger group played equally well on both occasions. Results from continuous measurement of heart rate indicated a deceleration during the concentration phases among the younger players, and the magnitude of deceleration increased from training to competition. In contrast, heart rate accelerated during training among the older players, the magnitude of the heart rate change decreasing from training to competition. This evidence suggests that the deterioration in motor performance observed in older players in stressful competitive activity may be due to age-related changes in attentional functioning.