Editorial: New lines of inquiry for investigating visual search behavior in human movement

The accurate and skilful execution of human movement requires allocating attention toward task-relevant information. Directing attention to pertinent areas within the environment is captured through measuring an individual's gaze behavior, with measures traditionally focusing on the locations and durations of the individual's gaze (summary fixation data). Understanding an individual's visual search behavior has provided important information regarding the link between oculomotor control, visual perception and attention allocation in task execution. The development of this understanding can originate from examining the inter-individual differences in visual search behavior as a function of expertise, or exploring intra-individual differences between successful and unsuccessful mastery attempts (e.g., Brams et al., 2019). Within this Research Topic, Kassem et al., examines the critical fixation points and durations associated with superior decision-making within an elite group of Australian Rules football players. Whilst watching game-based video clips players were asked to identify “the best option” in the developing play. Findings support previous conclusions (e.g., Vaeyens et al., 2007; Mann et al., 2019) that more experienced (skilful) players decide earlier, more correctly and use more task relevant information to inform their decision. These results also highlight how, within an elite (professional) environment, decision-making can be objectively assessed to more accurately distinguish the skill levels between players, thus providing a reminder of the potential value of video-based research to develop and enhance decision-making skills in elite/professional athletes (e.g., Milazzo et al., 2016)...