3.3 Information Processing

Question 1

Information processing

Answer 1

Before you can perform a skilled movement you must be able to take in information from the environment and process it

Then you can make an appropriate decision

During or after you will receive feedback to inform you about how appropriate your decision was

Question 2

Information processing model

Answer 2

Sensory input (information from sensory receptors)

Processing (stimulus identification, Response selection, response programming)

Out put (the movement)

Feedback (this may occur during or after skill completion)

Question 3

Stimulus identification

Answer 3

Once the stimulus is received it has meaning attributed to it from memory

Question 4

Response selection

Answer 4

The identified stimulus is aligned to a decided upon course of action or movement

Question 5

Response programming

Answer 5

The required motor program is retrieved from long term memory and a planned coordinated sequence of muscular contractions is initiated

Question 6

Output

Answer 6

Movement that occurs as a result of the initiation of motor neurone

Question 7

Feed back

Answer 7

All the information a person received about the performance of a skill in different stages with information used to enable a change in current (continuous) or future performance of the skill (discrete)

Question 8

Receiving information - Cues

Answer 8

Cures are any piece of information received from the environment is called a cue or stimuli

Your sense father information in regards to such things as the speed of the ball position of the fielders the sound of the ball off the bat etc.

Question 9

Input (noise)

Answer 9

Not all the information that can be gathered from the environment is relevant. This is irrelevant information is generally referred to as noise

Hearing comments from the crowd may be classed in this category

Question 10

Input (selective attention)

Answer 10

A performers ability to block our irrelevant information and attend only to relevant cues is referred to as selective attention

Question 11

Senses

Answer 11

Receiving information from the external environment is received through the 5 sense

Information from the body (internally) on the position of your body parts is received from the muscles tendons and joints via sensory nerve endings called proprioceptors

The sense of bodily movement and position is called proprioception or your kinaesthetic sense.

Question 12

Important sense

Answer 12

Vision - allows the performer to follow moving projectiles judge the distance and direction of an object (spatial awareness) and the ability to be able to detect colour and brightness

Question 13

Equilibrium- balance

Answer 13

Is the interval sense that tells you that your body is in balance and under control

It is very important in many motor skills especially those which require rapid changes in movement or require specific balance and control

Question 14

Proprioception (kinaesthesia and touch)

Answer 14

Kinaesthetic sense gives you an awareness of muscular movement and effort as well as the movement and positions of joints and tendons

Let’s you know how a particular movement feels

Question 15

Hearing

Answer 15

Teammates instruction, starters gun, coach debrief umpires whistle and hearing someone chasing you

Limited ability of the performer to see or hear can greatly reduce the ability to learn and perform a skill

Functioning of sensory organs cannot be improved through practice. However, practice can make you more acutely aware of your sensory capabilities

Highly skilled athletes have superior sensory systems and. An detect information that average players may not even notice

The experience of the skilled athlete increases the accuracy of their judgments about the signals they detect

Question 16

Visual cues and signals

Answer 16

When learning motor skills the detection of visual cues and signals can be practiced and improved by

Visual larger objects, contrasting colours, slowing down objects

Question 17

Signal detection

Answer 17

The determination of whether or not a cue or stimulus is present

The ability of the sense organs to detect a signal or stimulus depends on

• the intensity of the cue
• the effectiveness of the sense organs

Question 18

Signal detection (list)

Answer 18

Size 
Brightness 
Colour 
Distance from eyes 
Background 
Lighting 
Speed 
Amount of time in view 
Pitch volume loudness 
Interfering noises 
Duration of signals 
Where the body receives the signals 
Pressure and movement against the bodies surface

Question 19

Orienting

Answer 19

To ensure vital cues are detected we need to be looking to the correct part of the environment for important information

We need to orient and direct our attention

Beginners can be lost at times as they lack experience that tells them where the important information is

Effective coaching and practice can assist learner in developing understanding of orienting needs in a given sport

Question 20

Selective attention

Answer 20

You are constantly bombarded with signals and cues via your sense organise but you do not need to pay attention to everyone of the

The ability to filter out irrelevant info is called selective attention
Reduces amount of information therefore less time to process

Question 21

Improving selective attention

Answer 21

Relevant signals standout
Language suited to level of performer
Limited cues initially
Directing a players attention to performance cues
Basing explanations on the past experience of players

In order to detect a signal an athlete must be orienting to the right area of the environment. Selection must be achieved so that the performer knows exactly which cues to follow