Sport Sciences Research Institute Motor Behavior 2538-273X 8 25 2016 10 22 The Effect of Spectator – induced Arousal on Depth Perception and Spatial Memory in Female Student Athletes The Effect of Spectator – induced Arousal on Depth Perception and Spatial Memory in Female Student Athletes 121 138 842 10.22089/mbj.2016.842 FA Ehsan Zareian Saeedeh Razdan Shahzad Tahmasebi Brojeni 0000-0002-0875-3993 Journal Article 2015 11 14 The purpose of the present research was to investigate the effect of spectator-induced arousal on depth perception and spatial memory in female student athletes. The population of the present study included all female students of physical education faculty of Tehran University. Thirty university students (Mean age=20.47 ± 1.38 y) volunteered to participate in the experiment. The method of the present study was semi experimental. First, depth perception (Pulsimeter, Electric Depth Perception Tester) and spatial memory (linear movement apparatus) were evaluated; then, they were divided randomly into two groups, including a control group without spectator presence (n=15) and an experimental group with spectator presence (15 people). The heart rate was used for measurement of arousal. The post-test was done for all participants after intervention. The results of covariance analysis in depth perception showed that spectator-induced arousal had significant effect on DP (P=0.001). In conclusion, the results indicated that high motivation (spectator presence) negatively affects DP, resulting in overestimation. Covariance analysis in spatial memory showed that although motivational climate (spectator) increased errors of spatial memory, there was no significant difference between spectator-induced arousal and spatial memory in the experimental and control groups (P=0.1). Thus, given the compromising effect of increased arousal level on depth perception, athletes are encouraged to use effective strategies for appropriate control of arousal levels The purpose of the present research was to investigate the effect of spectator-induced arousal on depth perception and spatial memory in female student athletes. The population of the present study included all female students of physical education faculty of Tehran University. Thirty university students (Mean age=20.47 ± 1.38 y) volunteered to participate in the experiment. The method of the present study was semi experimental. First, depth perception (Pulsimeter, Electric Depth Perception Tester) and spatial memory (linear movement apparatus) were evaluated; then, they were divided randomly into two groups, including a control group without spectator presence (n=15) and an experimental group with spectator presence (15 people). The heart rate was used for measurement of arousal. The post-test was done for all participants after intervention. The results of covariance analysis in depth perception showed that spectator-induced arousal had significant effect on DP (P=0.001). In conclusion, the results indicated that high motivation (spectator presence) negatively affects DP, resulting in overestimation. Covariance analysis in spatial memory showed that although motivational climate (spectator) increased errors of spatial memory, there was no significant difference between spectator-induced arousal and spatial memory in the experimental and control groups (P=0.1). Thus, given the compromising effect of increased arousal level on depth perception, athletes are encouraged to use effective strategies for appropriate control of arousal levels https://mbj.ssrc.ac.ir/article_842_fc3cf452d3da8402bebb765225ce8c0e.pdf