Midterm 1 - Chapter 1

Question 1

Define Motor

Answer 1

A movement

Question 2

Define Skill

Answer 2

An action the has a goal in mind and requires limb movement

Question 3

What is “Motor Skill”

Answer 3

Motor skill has 2 parts, the quality of movement that determines the skill(act) and is distinguishable by a variety of characteristics (tasks)

Question 4

How can a skill be classified? (3)

Answer 4

1. By the way the task is organized
2. Importance of motor and cognitive elements
3. Level of environmental predictability

Question 5

How can skills/tasks be organized?

Answer 5

1. Discrete - Brief, 1 distinct beginning and end. (Taking a drink from a cup)
2. Serial - Multiple discrete skills strung together (Driving stick)
3. Continuous - No clear beginning or end (running)

Question 6

Define what it means to be a “Motor” or “Cognitive” Element and provide an example. How would you describe most actions, motor or cognitive?

Answer 6

Motor: All physical. Ex weight lifting
Cognitive: All mental. Ex Chess
Most actions typically fall somewhere within a continuum of the two rather than exclusively one or the other.

Question 7

What are the 2 types of environmental predictability?

Answer 7

Open Skill - Performed in an unpredictable environment

Closed Skill - Predictable/ stationary environment in which a skill can be pre-planned.

Question 8

Define Capabilities

Answer 8

Characteristics of individuals that are subject to change from practice and that underlie performance.

Question 9

What 2 dimensions does gentile look at when classifying skill?

Answer 9

1. Environmental demands

2. Action Variability

Question 10

Environmental demands for gentile’s system are split into what 2 components? Describe them.

Answer 10

1. Context Variability - Looks at variation between attempts of the action (you may speak sign language but each time you may say something different so the context of the attempt changes).
2. Regulatory Variability - Is the change in the environment around you (Going on an escalator, jogging around town)

Question 11

Action Requirements for gentile’s system are split into what 2 components? Describe them.

Answer 11

1. Object manipulation - You must manipulate an object to complete the skill (playing a flute)
2. Body Transport - You have to move your body in order to complete the skill (walking)

Question 12

Who is Franklin Henry?

Answer 12

Father of motor skill research, from Berkley, Cal. Created Specificity Hypothesis

Question 13

What are the 3 keys to Guthrie’s model for distinguishing skill proficiency?

Answer 13

1. Maximum certainty of success, no/very little luck involved.
2. Minimum amount of energy expended (efficiency)
3. Minimum movement time (or ability to control movement time, a RB moving too fast would get crushed if he was faster than his blockers)

Question 14

What is Motor Performance?

Answer 14

Observable production of a voluntary action or motor skill. Typically can be influenced by temporary factors such as motivation, arousal, fatigue etc.

Question 15

What is Motor Learning?

Answer 15

Changes associated with practice or experience. Part of an internal process that determines capability for producing motor skill.

Question 16

Describe the relation between Motor Learning and Motor Performance and also give the theories behind why they may be connected.

Answer 16

ML and MP are hard to split up because many reps of motor performance are required to gain motor learning but an individuals amount of ML is estimated by their performance. This is because of the internal state of ML, which is only demonstrated by performance. Performance can be influenced by factors like boredom which can dictate how one can evaluate the degree of learning.
2 Theories behinds these ML and MP are the learning stages and implicit learning

Question 17

What is implicit learning?

Answer 17

Experiencing performance improvements for which you are unaware. These are tasks you learn without realizing and would have a hard time telling others how to perform/learn the task.

Question 18

How many theories are there on the stages of Performance and learning and who is responsible for them?

Answer 18

5 different theories on P&L, authors are:

1. Fits and Posner
2. Adams
3. Gentile
4. Newell
5. Ericsson

Question 19

Describe Fits and Posner’s model of P&L

Answer 19

1. Cognitive (Trial and Error): Thinking through a skill
2. Associative (homing in): Associate movements with outcomes
3. Autonomous(free and easy): Automatically happens involving little to no cognition.

Question 20

Describe Adams Model of P&L

Answer 20

1. verbal-motor: talking yourself through a skill

2. Motor: Less talk more action! Feedback for can be intrinsic and/or extrinsic

Question 21

Describe Gentile’s model of P&L

Answer 21

1. Getting the idea of the movement(understanding): different ideas depending on the nature of the skill(open or closed).
   2a. Fixation (goal for closed skills): With a fixed environment you can control and correct movements
   2b. Diversification (goal for open skills): With an open environment you can modify movements based on the context of the situation.

Question 22

Describe Newell’s model of P&L

Answer 22

1. Coordination - Acquiring the movement pattern

2. Control - Adapting the pattern for different situations.

Question 23

Within Newell’s model of P&L, Bernstein asked a question what was it and what was the answer?

Answer 23

Q: How do we control multiple degrees of freedom that exist within our body?
A: Movement Coordination is the result of freeing and freezing Degrees of Freedom (DOF)

Question 24

When an athlete chokes what is the theory behind that and what brain structure is supposedly responsible?

Answer 24

Internal or Implicit processes become external or explicit due to stress. Regression of the Basal Ganglia is responsible.

Question 25

What is the situation based approach? What makes it up? (3)

Answer 25

Understanding motor performance/learning by placing emphasis on the context in which learning happens. Looks at Person, Task and Environment.

Question 26

What is a Gross Motor Skill?

Answer 26

Primary control of movement by large muscles or proximal muscle groups

Question 27

What is a fine motor skill?

Answer 27

Primary control of movement by small muscles or distal muscle groups.

Question 28

Describe Ericsson’s model of P&L

Answer 28

Expertise requires 10,000 hours of practice. Practice is intense, optimal instruction, work like and not inherently enjoyable.