ML 1 (introduction to motor learning)

Question 1

What is a motor skill?

Answer 1

a motor activity with a specific goal.
> has an objective
> is voluntary
> needs to be learnt

Question 2

What are 3 main criteria of a motor skill?

Answer 2

1. consistent achievement of the goal
2. success under different conditions (e.g. fatigue)
3. efficiency

Question 3

skill = movement ?

Answer 3

no,

movement = specific patterns of joint/segment motion

Question 4

Describe a 1D classification of motor skill

Answer 4

classifies skills with respect to the opposite end of a characteristic feature

Question 5

Give 3 examples of continuums that may be used to classify skills in a 1D model

Answer 5

> gross vs fine
continuous vs discrete
open vs closed

Question 6

What are the two broad contexts in Gentile’s taxonomy (2D classification)?

Answer 6

> action function

> environmental context

Question 7

How is action function split in Gentile’s taxonomy?

Answer 7

body stability and body transport

each of which involve either object manipulation or no object manipulation

Question 8

How is environmental context split in Gentile’s taxonomy?

Answer 8

in motion conditions and stationary conditions

each of which involve either inter-trial variability or no inter-trial variability

Question 9

Explain the condition of body stability in Gentile’s taxonomy

Answer 9

the individual’s CoM is not in transport.

e.g. holding a yoga pose or shooting basketball free throws

Question 10

Explain the condition of body transport in Gentile’s taxonomy

Answer 10

the individuals CoM is being displaced.

e.g. running on a track

Question 11

Explain the condition of stationary environment in Gentile’s taxonomy

Answer 11

the environment around the individual is not changing

e.g. running on an empty track

Question 12

Explain the condition of in motion environment in Gentile’s taxonomy

Answer 12

the environment around the individual is changing

e.g. playing a game of football

Question 13

How can you assess execution performance?

Answer 13

> EMG
Kinematics
Forces

Question 14

How can you assess outcome performance?

Answer 14

> error (accuracy and consistency)

Question 15

What are the 3 types of error you can assess?

Answer 15

1. absolute error (magnitude of error across reps)
2. constant error (direction of error)
3. variability error (consistency of performance)

Question 16

What do absolute and constant error give you an image of?

Answer 16

average behaviour

Question 17

What does variability error give you an image of?

Answer 17

variability (duh)

Question 18

What is learning?

Answer 18

a change in the capability of a person to perform a skill that must be inferred from a relatively permanent improvement in performance as a result of practice or experience
- (Magil & Anderson, 2014)

Question 19

How do performance (left side) and learning (right side) differ?

Answer 19

observable behaviour vs inferred
temporary vs relatively permanent
may not be due to practice vs due to practice
may be influence by condition vs not influenced by condition

Question 20

What are the 6 key features of learning?

Answer 20

1. improvement over time
2. consistency
3. stability in light of int or ext perturbations
4. persistence of improved performance
5. adaptability to similar conditions
6. reduced attentional demand (less focus and dual tasking)

Question 21

What typical trends may you observe in a performance (learning) curve?

Answer 21

> linear
-vely accelerated
+vely accelerated
S-shaped

Question 22

Other than performance (learning) curves, what other methods can be used to assess learning?

Answer 22

> retention tests (observing performance after time off)
transfer tests (novel context or variation to the skill)
dual task tests (adding additional task to the skill)

Question 23

What feature of learning do retention tests observe?

Answer 23

degree of persistence

Question 24

What feature of learning do transfer tests observe?

Answer 24

adaptability

Question 25

What feature of learning do dual task tests observe?

Answer 25

attentional demand

Question 26

What model describes how we progress through the stages of learning?

Answer 26

Fitts & Posner model

Question 27

Describe the cognitive stage of learning

Answer 27

focusing on cognitive objectives:
- what to do
- how to do it
external feedback required from the instructor

Question 28

Describe the associative stage of learning

Answer 28

basic mechanics are ok but there’s a need to improve accuracy and consistency of performance.
the performer is now able to recognise errors themselves

Question 29

Describe the autonomous stage of learning

Answer 29

performer does not need to think about performer the skill. execution and error correction are performed automatically
performer is able to multitask and think ahead as attentional demand is decreased

Question 30

What are the effects of moving through the stages of learning on coordination?

Answer 30

early stages of learning involve rigid movement and muscle co-contraction
as a skill is learnt, there is an increase of functional synergies

Question 31

What changes occur during the learning process?

Answer 31

> coordination (increased functional synergies)
neuromuscular activation (better timing and more efficient muscle use)
energy cost (increased mechanical efficiency)
error correction (more rapid and efficient corrections)
reduced conscious attentional demands