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Australian researcher attributes elite athletes' high reaction speed to visual training

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      Australian researcher attributes elite athletes' high reaction speed to visual training

      2024-08-06 22:06 Last Updated At:08-07 03:37

      An Australian researcher says the extreme precision and reaction speed of Olympic divers and gymnasts can be attributed to unique visual training and skills which allow them to see and process information at blinding speeds.

      When University of Melbourne senior lecturer Christine Nearchou watches elite athletes perform, much of her attention is focused on their eyes.

      "I'm watching just how well they're using their visual system to then drive what they physically can do. In particular with gymnastics, just watching their visual system, how focused they are, you can see it in their face, you can see that their vision is laser sharp and they've already planned out what they're going to do," she said.

      Nearchou, who works in optometry and vision sciences, says the visual skills found in Olympic divers and gymnasts are very different from what most of us possess.

      "Studies show that they are able to manipulate their visual system and their natural reflexes so that they can bring their eyes and their eye movements to where they need to be. For example, we have a reflex or a primitive reflex that we're born with called the vestibular ocular reflex or gaze stabilization," Nearchou said.

      For elite divers and gymnasts, this stabilization can get in the way, and part of their training involves learning how to shut it off. Another critical skill athletes rely on is visualization -- seeing exactly what they are about to do in incredible detail.

      "So, they're gaining more information, they're analyzing, interpreting, learning from what they've seen and being able to compartmentalize that and then instruct the motor skills what to do. And they're doing that with not only perfect accuracy, but with perfect timing. And that's where mortals like us are in awe – when I say that they can seamlessly integrate those two systems," Nearchou said.

      Nearchou said possessing highly tuned visual processing skills is critical to avoiding mistakes and serious injuries. She said these athletes are relying on those skills as they fly and twist through the air.

      "So, that makes it even more unbelievable and incredible and puts us in awe. Even as a vision scientist, I'm still in awe of what they can achieve, having superiorly developed that visual cognition side of their brain," she said.

      Australian researcher attributes elite athletes' high reaction speed to visual training

      Australian researcher attributes elite athletes' high reaction speed to visual training

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      Six new films set to hit China's big screens on Chinese New Year's Day

      2025-01-23 03:35 Last Updated At:05:17

      The lineup for the 2025 Spring Festival movie season was officially revealed on Wednesday with six highly anticipated films set to hit the big screens in China on the first day of the Spring Festival on January 29.

      The six films -- Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force, Ne Zha 2, Detective Chinatown 1900, Operation Leviathan, Boonie Bears: Future Return, and The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero -- span a range of genres and feature impressive creative teams.

      Since pre-sales began on Jan 19, advanced sales for the holiday line-up were the fastest ever to reach 100 million yuan (about 13.8 million U.S. dollars).

      At a launch ceremony for the Spring Festival movie season, held at the China National Film Museum in Beijing, the cast of each film highlighted the unique selling points of their movie.

      "The viewers will not only uncover the hidden points of plot from the first installment of Creation of the Gods, but also get a real sense of the characters and their evolving relationships through a brand new theme," said Wuershan, director of the movie Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force.

      Adapted from the classic Chinese martial arts novel by Jin Yong, The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero captures the essence of Chinese chivalry with its portrayal of selfless heroism.

      described it as a story with stirring heroism.

      "The soul-stirring and awe-inspiring heroic spirit conveyed by the film will be touching, memorable and romantic as well," said Tsui Hark, who directed the film.

      The animated film Ne Zha 2 continues the adventures of hero Ne Zha -- a beloved Chinese mythological figure -- with a focus on comedy and spectacular visual effects.

      Retaining its signature style, the popular detective series Detective Chinatown 1900 promises twists and turns with big production values and glittering special effects.

      As China's first film about nuclear submarines, Operation Leviathan presents a broader underwater battlefield and more complex combat scenarios, offering a unique perspective on naval warfare.

      The Great Hero -- the last chapter of the "Boonie Bears" sci-fi series -- combines extreme romance and bold imagination to take viewers on a futuristic adventure.

      Different discount and subsidy policies for moviegoers during the Spring Festival were also announced at the launch event with local film authorities across the country organizing special events and promotions to encourage cinema visits.

      Supporting institutions, including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China UnionPay, Maoyan Entertainment, and Taopiaopia, are expected to provide at least 600 million yuan (about 83 million U.S. dollars) in subsidies for moviegoers during the holiday season.

      Six new films set to hit China's big screens on Chinese New Year's Day

      Six new films set to hit China's big screens on Chinese New Year's Day

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