Lecture 2b, Measurement of Motor Performance

Question 1

Performance Perspective

Answer 1

define skills in terms of “how good” somebody is at something
low skill (novice) <—-> highly skilled (expert)
- were they fast?
- were they accurate?
- were they consistent
- how did they achieve the outcome?
asking various questions that give us some indication of how skilled somebody is

Question 2

What are Characteristics of Proficiency?

Answer 2

maximum speed and accuracy
- speed and accuracy are often in competition with one another but sometimes we need both for certain actions (as you speed things up you leave accuracy but focusing too much on accuracy you lose speed)

Question 3

What are the three measures of movement?

Answer 3

• reaction time, movement time and total (response) time

Question 4

Reaction Time (RT)

Answer 4

interval between presentation of unanticipated stimulus and beginning of a response (if you know in advance you may not react at all) - if it is predictable we are not getting reaction time

Question 5

Movement Time (MT)

Answer 5

interval reflecting movement (initiation and end). reflects time to transport the limb

Question 6

Total (response) time (TRT or TT)

Answer 6

sum of RT and MT

Question 7

RT and MT: Typical Events & Key Terms When Measuring Speed/Response Time

Answer 7

1. foreperiod (variable)
2. reaction time (RT)
3. movement time (MT)
4. response time (total time)

Question 8

foreperiod

Answer 8

time between warning signal and imperative stimulus

Question 9

reaction time

Answer 9

time between imperative stimulus and initiation of response

Question 10

movement time

Answer 10

time between initiation and movement end

Question 11

response time (total time)

Answer 11

time between imperative stimulus and movement end (RT + MT)

Question 12

What are three RT situations?

Answer 12

simple RT, choice RT, go-nogo RT

Question 13

Simple RT

Answer 13

1 stimulus and 1 response
- ex. race (1 stimulus = the gun 1 response = GO)
- you know what you have to do in advance, just have to anticipate

Question 14

Choice RT

Answer 14

2 stimuli and 2 responses (ex. wack-a-mole: have to be fast, make quick reaction)
- ex. may give left and right hand response and 2 options and each option represents on hand (there is choice in response)

Question 15

Discrimination or Go/No-Go RT

Answer 15

2 stimuli and 1 response (ex. need to make a decision whether to “shoot” or “not shoot”…some discrimination needed)
- decide whether you need to react or not react
- ex. there are variable stimuli but you are told to only reply to one thing
- emphasis on discrimination of the stimuli as opposed to response