Cognitive visual strategies are associated with delivery accuracy in elite wheelchair curling: insights from eye-tracking and machine learning.

ABSTRACT: Visual search is pivotal for athletic performance, yet its role in adaptive sports like wheelchair curling remains understudied. This study investigated how eye-movement features predict delivery accuracy and distinguish elite from novice athletes. Thirty wheelchair curling athletes (15 experts, 15 novices) performed standardized delivery accuracy and visual search tasks, with eye movements recorded using the EyeLink Portable Duo system. We employed multiple regression to identify predictors of accuracy and a support vector machine (SVM) to classify athletes based on expertise. Experts demonstrated superior delivery accuracy and significantly more efficient visual search patterns, characterized by shorter dwell times, faster reaction times, and fewer fixations. The SVM model successfully c

SUBMITTER: Zhao H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12808461 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature