Lecture 14: Motor Learning

Question 1

what is motor learning

Answer 1

practice or experience leading to a relatively permanent change in skilled behaviour

Question 2

what is happening in the brain with motor learning

Answer 2

neuroplasticity

Question 3

what is Explicit motor learning

Answer 3

Conscious learning

verbal knowledge (we’re focused on what our body is doing while relying on memory)

Question 4

what is Implicit/procedural motor learning

Answer 4

Unconscious remembering

like riding a bike

Question 5

as motor learning progresses, is there an increase or decrease in brain activity

Answer 5

decrease

Question 6

what are the 3 Factors Affecting Learning

Answer 6

the abilities of the learner

the type of task

the client’s current learning stage

Question 7

why is problem-solving important for motor learning

Answer 7

Having the learner actively problem-solve can enhance learning

Question 8

why is Retention and Transferability important for motor learning

Answer 8

we want the learning to be relatively permanent so they can repeat the task later (retention)

they can then perform different but related tasks (transferability)

Question 9

why is practice important with motor learning

Answer 9

deliberate practice is essential

we need to increase difficulty over time

Question 10

what are discrete tasks

Answer 10

Task has a clear beginning and end

feedback is obtained after task
completion

(hitting a tennis ball)

Question 11

what are continuous tasks

Answer 11

Adjustments can be made in real time

(riding a bike

Question 12

what is part practice

Answer 12

Working on smaller parts of a skill

Better for early motor learning

Better for discrete tasks

Question 13

what is Whole practice

Answer 13

Working on entire skill at once

Better for continuous tasks

Question 14

what are closed tasks

Answer 14

Tasks performed in a predictable, unchanging environment

Question 15

what are Open tasks

Answer 15

Tasks performed in a dynamic and changing environment

Question 16

what are the 3 kinds of scheduled practice

Answer 16

blocked

random

distributed

Question 17

what is blocked practice

Answer 17

Practice Task A, then Task B, then Task C

AAA, BBB, CCC

Question 18

what is random practice

Answer 18

Practice combinations of Tasks A, B, and C

ABB, CAC, CBA

Question 19

what is distributed practice

Answer 19

Practice is broken up into a number of short sessions over a longer period of time

(ABC)

Question 20

what is the hierarchy of the types of practice

Answer 20

random practice results in better learning, retention, and transferability than blocked practice

Distributed practice leads to better retention than blocked practice

Question 21

when is the benefit of random practice lost

Answer 21

learning very complex tasks or in individuals with significant neurological deficits

Question 22

do people with neurological injuries need the same amount of practice as others?

Answer 22

People with neurological injuries require more practice than healthy individuals

Question 23

is the current dose of average therapy enough

Answer 23

Current rehabilitation dose is not sufficient to promote cortical reorganization

they need to do more reps to get enough practice

Question 24

How Can we Increase the Dose of practice?

Answer 24

Action Observation

motor imager/mental rehearsal

Question 25

what is action observation

Answer 25

Prior to the client performing the task, provide a demonstration or have them observe the task

they use mirror neurons

Question 26

what is motor imager/mental rehearsal

Answer 26

Cognitive rehearsal and imagining of a motor action

Mental practice + physical practice = greater improvements in motor performance

Question 27

what are the outcomes with high doses of practice

Answer 27

excellent outcomes with high doses

Question 28

what is Intrinsic feedback

Answer 28

Internal information the person obtains

Critical for error detection

Question 29

what is Extrinsic (augmented feedback)

Answer 29

Information gathered from outside the
person’s body

knowledge of results

Knowledge of performance

Question 30

how should we provide feedback (5 ways)

Answer 30

Positive feedback before negative

Excessive feedback can hinder learning

Intermittent schedule, decrease over time

Terminal feedback (after they’re done) > concurrent feedback

Focus on your observations

Question 31

what should be priorities in early stages of motor learning in terms of feedback

Answer 31

knowledge of results

Question 32

what should be priorities in later stages of motor learning in terms of feedback

Answer 32

knowledge of performance

Question 33

do enhanced learner expectations improve or hinder learning

Answer 33

it can improve learning

Question 34

what is Kinematic Abundance

Answer 34

Movement patterns may differ slightly for the same task and that’s okay

Question 35

what is task salience

Answer 35

Practice meaningful tasks used in daily life

Make these tasks as realistic as possible

Question 36

with explicit motor learning, what are we focused on

Answer 36

knowledge of performance since we are consciously learning

Question 37

with implicit/procedural motor learning, what are we focused on

Answer 37

knowledge of results since we are using unconscious remembering

Question 38

what type of learning is particularly advantageous for people with cognitive impairments

Answer 38

implicit learning

Question 39

Which of the following statements is NOT considered to be part of the characteristics of motor learning?:

Learning cannot be observed directly

Learning is assumed to be relatively permanent

Learning occurs as a result of experience or practice

All responses are part of the characteristics of motor learning

Answer 39

All responses are part of the characteristics of motor learning

Question 40

You are working with a client with severe cognitive impairment, which motor learning strategy should you avoid?

Answer 40

Random practice