Chapter 2 - Measuring Motor Skills

Question 1

performance outcome measures

Answer 1

a category of motor skill performance measures that indicate the outcome or result of performing a motor skill

Question 2

performance production measures

Answer 2

a category of motor skill performance measures that indicates the performance of specific aspects of the motor control system during the performance of a motor skill

Question 3

Reaction Time

Answer 3

the interval of time between the onset of a signal (stimulus) and the initiation of a response

Question 4

Movement time

Answer 4

the interval of time between the initiation of a movement and the completion of the movement

Question 5

response time

Answer 5

the time interval involving both reaction time and movement time; time from onset of a signal (stimulus) to the completion of a response

Question 6

simple RT

Answer 6

the reaction time when the situation involves only one signal (stimulus) that requires only one response

Question 7

choice RT

Answer 7

the reaction time when the situation involves more than one signal and each signal requires its own specified response

Question 8

discrimination RT

Answer 8

the reaction time when the situation involves more than one signal but only one response, which is to only one of the signals; the other signals require no response

Question 9

absolute error (AE)

Answer 9

unsigned deviation from the target or criterion, representing amount of error. A measure of the magnitude of an error without regard to the direction of the deviation

Question 10

constant error (CE)

Answer 10

the signed (+/-) deviation from the target or criterion; it represents amount and direction of error and serves as a measure of performance bias

Question 11

variable error (VE)

Answer 11

an error score representing the variability (or the consistency) of performance

Question 12

root-mean-squared error (RMSE)

Answer 12

an error measure used for continuous skills to indicate the amount of error between the performance curve produced and the criterion performance curve for a specific amount of time during which performance is sampled

Question 13

kinematics

Answer 13

the description of motion without regard to force or mass; it includes displacement, velocity, and acceleration

Question 14

displacement

Answer 14

a kinematic measure describing changes in the spatial positions of a limb or joint during the time course of the movement

Question 15

velocity

Answer 15

a kinematic measure describing the rate of change of an object’s position with respect to time. It is derived by dividing displacement by time (ex. m/sec or km/hr)

Question 16

acceleration

Answer 16

a kinematic measure that describes change in velocity during movement; derived from velocity by dividing change in velocity by change in time

Question 17

kinetics

Answer 17

the study of the role of force as a cause of motion

Question 18

EMG

Answer 18

measurement technique that records the electrical activity of a muscle or group of muscles. indicates muscle activity

Question 19

EEG

Answer 19

recording of brain activity by detection electrical activity in specific areas on the surface of the cortex by several surface electrodes placed on the scalp. Activity recorded as waves, which are identified on the basis of the speed of the rhythmic activity

Question 20

fMRI

Answer 20

brain scanning technique that assesses changes in blood flow by detecting blood oxygenation characteristics while a person is performing a skill. clear images of active brain sites at a specific time, provides quantitative information.

Question 21

TMS

Answer 21

transcranial magnetic stimulation

non-invasive method of assessing brain activity that involves a short burst (referred to as a pulse) of a field of magnetic waves is directed at a specific area of the cortex. this pulse of magnetic activity temporarily disrupts the normal activity in that area, which allows researchers to observe a subject’s behavior when that area of the brain is not functioning

Question 22

relative phase

Answer 22

an index of the coordination between 2 limb segments or limbs during the performance of a cyclic movement. it is based on calculating the phase angles for each limb segment or limb at a specific point in time and then subtracting one phase angle from the other. Relative phase ranges from 0 (or 360 degrees), which indicates an in-phase relationship between the limb segments or limbs, to 180 degrees, which indicates an anti- phase (or out-of-phase) relationship

Question 23

pre-motor time

Answer 23

quiet interval between the onset of stimulus and beginning of activity

“perceptual and cognitive decision-making activity”

Question 24

motor time

Answer 24

interval from the initial increase in muscle activity until the actual limb movement.

Question 25

fractionate RT

Answer 25

pre-motor time, motor time