IB Sports, exercise and health science C.2.2 Attentional Control Key Definitions

Arousal is the state of being physiologically alert, awake, and attentive

Attention is the behavior a person uses to focus the senses, from sight to hearing and even smell

Attention is essential for successful skilled performance in sport and exercise, involving the concentration of mental activity on relevant tasks.

Attentional narrowing is a psychological state where a person focuses on a small set of information, ignoring other stimuli. It can occur during stressful situations, and can lead to accidents.

Fatigue is the inability to maintain the required or expected power output during physical activity, resulting in a decline in performance.

The main or central point of something, especially of attention or interest

Athletes' ability to quickly understand and interpret their environment during performance, enabling effective decision-making under pressure (e.g., making correct decisions in the final moments of a match).