Lecture 2

Question 1

what is motor control

Answer 1

the study of neural, physical and behavioural aspects of human movement

Question 2

what is motor learning

Answer 2

the study of the processes involved in the acquisition of a motor skill and the factors that enhance or inhibit an individuals capability to perform a motor skill

Question 3

what is motor development

Answer 3

the study of the products and underlying processes of motor behaviour changes across the life span

Question 4

what is a skill (Bennet and Franson, 2023)

Answer 4

the adaptation of ones coordination patterns to produce functional and beneficial outcomes in contexts that require them

Question 5

generally, what is an ability

Answer 5

(generally) genetically predetermined general trait or capacity of the individual that affects performance

Question 6

what is posture (Kendal et al, 2005)

Answer 6

relative arrangement of the body parts

Question 7

what is technique

Answer 7

any coordination pattern applied to the performance of a specific motor action

Question 8

example of technique (the nervous system)

Answer 8

the way the nervous system organises the different elements of the body together to move

Question 9

are there more factors going in to open or closed motor skills

Answer 9

more factors going into open skills

Question 10

what is the environment predicability like in open and closed skills

Answer 10

open skill = variable and unpredictable environment

closed skill = stable and predictable environment

Question 11

what are the three types of nature of the skill

Answer 11

• continuous
• discrete
• serial

Question 12

what is a continuous skill and what is an example

Answer 12

where the movement ongoing and uninterrupted, with no clear beginning or end point

e.g running or swimming

Question 13

what is a discrete skill and what is an example

Answer 13

they have a clear and defined starting and ending points

e.g throwing or catching

Question 14

what is a serial skill and what is an example

Answer 14

they consist of a series of discrete actions performed in a specific sequence or order

e.g wrestling takedown or basketball layup

Question 15

what are the two types of movement precision and examples

Answer 15

• fine motor skills (e.g playing piano or writing)
• gross motor skills (e.g kicking or striking)

Question 16

two types of time constraint taxonomy

Answer 16

• self paced skills
• externally paced skills

Question 17

what are self paced skills and examples

Answer 17

tasks where the performer initiates and controls the timing and execution of the movement

e.g foul shot or golf swing

Question 18

what are externally paced skills and examples

Answer 18

tasks where the timing and execution of the movement are dictated by external factors or cues

e.g cricket batting or hockey shot

Question 19

what does APA’s stand for

Answer 19

anticipatory postural adjustments

Question 20

what are APA’s

Answer 20

preparatory movements made by the body’s musculoskeletal system in anticipation of an upcoming voluntary movement

Question 21

what is the degrees of freedom problem

Answer 21

how the nervous system constrains and controls the large number of degrees of freedom in our body to produce coordinated movement

Question 22

what is the serial order problem

Answer 22

how do we sequence and time our movements appropriately ?

Question 23

what are the 6 important issues in motor learning

Answer 23

• performance
• transfer
• feedback
• stages of learning
• practice
• retention

Question 24

what is phylogeny

Answer 24

evolutionary development of a species

Question 25

what is ontogeny

Answer 25

development across the lifespan of an individual