A Comparative Study Of The Motion Perception Abilities In Cyclical And Non-cyclical Movements

Perception serves as the primary processing of one's senses. It is the first step in one's cognitive process on which are based the basic and advanced models of the external world one forms in mind. Motion perception ability is required in people's daily lives as well as athletic movements as a basic ability to achieve the accuracy and intricacy in completing the movements. A perception of one's own and others'physical movements in sports is of particular importance. In the process of teaching or training, a teacher or a coach needs to observe how the students or the athletes complete the movements so as to find the mistakes and improve the movements. To learn and improve an athletic skill, a student should try to form a precise image of the movements through a careful observation of the teachers'demonstrations and meanwhile, to be conscious of his own movements. Thus, the development of various perceptions plays a significant role as a psychological factor to form and improve athletic skills, which enables athletes to obtain a better perception of their movements as well as the subtle discrepancy between different movements, and helps them to refine their movements in great details. Through a comparative study of the motion perception abilities in cyclical and non-cyclical movements, the paper provides a theoretical basis for athletes in their trainings and competitions.By the means of collecting data and documentaries, interviewing experts, comparing experiments, and statistical and logical analysis, this paper carries out a comparative study of the motion perception abilities in cyclical and non-cyclical movements and comes out with the following conclusions:1. Athletes who are engaged in non-cyclical movements are stronger than those in cyclical movements in terms of the perceptions of depth, spatial memory, and direction but weaker in their perception of speed.2. Male athletes in both cyclical and non-cyclical movements are stronger than female athletes in terms of the perceptions of depth, spatial memory, direction and speed.3. The first conclusion also applies to male athletes.4. Female athletes of non-cyclical movements are stronger than those in cyclical movements in terms of the perceptions of depth and direction but weaker in the perception of speed. The two have little discrepancy in their perception of spatial memory.