Motor Learning

Question 1

Study of the acquisition or modification of movement

Answer 1

Motor learning

• Focus = acquisition
• permanent

Question 2

memory that involves the association of information related to people or things one has encountered, places one has been, and the meaning of these bits of information

Answer 2

declarative/ explicit memory

- factual knowledge

Question 3

What are the types of implicit memory?

Answer 3

1. Nonassociative: habituation, sensitization
2. Associatve: classical and operant conditioning
3. Procedural

Question 4

memory that occurs when a single stimulus is given repeatedly

Answer 4

nonassociative

Question 5

A decrease in responsiveness that occurs as a result of repeated exposure to non painful stimulus

Answer 5

habituation

- used in vestib rehab, sensory integration, chronic pain rehab

Question 6

An increased responsiveness following a threatening or noxious stimulus

Answer 6

sensitization

- used in balance training (education on environment), MD (education on signs of fatigue), Uwalker with PD

Question 7

Through this type of learning, a person learns to predict relationships, either relationships of one stimulus to another or the relationship of one’s behavior to a consequence

Answer 7

associative forms of learning

- i.e., classical and operant conditoning

Question 8

An initially weak stimulus becomes associated with another stronger stimulus; after repeated pairing of the two stimuli, a response is seen in response to the initially weak stimulus

Answer 8

classical conditioning

- the brain is most likely to perceive and integrate aspects of the environment that are most pertinent

Question 9

trial-and-error learning; behaviors that are rewarded tend to be repeated at the cost of other behaviors; likewise, behaviors followed by aversive stimuli are not usually repeated

Answer 9

operant conditioning
- setting up a therapy session so a particular movement is rewarded by the successful accomplishment of a task desired by the patient

Question 10

learning tasks that can be performed automatically without attention or conscious thought, like a habit; develops slowly through repitition; causes development of a movement schema

Answer 10

procedural learning

Question 11

learning that results in knowledge that can be consciously recalled and thus requires processes such as awareness, attention, and reflection; requires mental practice

Answer 11

declarative or explicit learning

- successful use during rehab of functional skill loss; assess independence of HEP, THA precautions

Question 12

What are the 4 types of processing in declarative learning?

Answer 12

1. Encoding
2. consolidation
3. storage
4. retrieval

Question 13

declarative memory processing that requires attention; extent is determined by the level of motivation, the extent of attention to the information, and the ability to associate it meaningfully with information that is already in memory

Answer 13

encoding

Question 14

declarative memory processing that makes information stable fro longterm memory storage and involves structural changes in neurons

Answer 14

consolidation

Question 15

declarative memory processing that involves the long term retention of memories and has a vast capacity compared to the limited capacity of short term or working memory

Answer 15

storage

Question 16

declarative memory processing that involves the recall of info from different long term storage sites; subject to distortion since an individual reconstructs memories from a combination of different sites

Answer 16

retrieval

Question 17

motor learning theory that emphasizes open-loop control processes and the generalized motor program concepts; motor programs contain generalized rules for a specific class of movements

Answer 17

schmidt’s schema theory

- open-loop control = no sensory feedback needed

Question 18

an abstract representation stored in memory following multiple presentations of a class of objects

Answer 18

Schema

- dog example

Question 19

contains the rules for creating the spatial and temporal patterns of muscle activity needed to carry out a given movement

Answer 19

generalized motor programs

- iceskating –> rollerblading

Question 20

After an individual makes a movement, 4 things are available for brief storage in short term memory. What are those 4 things?

Answer 20

1. initial movement conditions, such as position of body and the weight of the object manipulated
2. the parameters used in the generalized motor program
3. the outcome of the movement, in terms of KR
4. the sensory consequences of the movement
   - these are abstracted into two schemas: recall (motor) and recognition (sensory)

Question 21

Schema used to select a specific movement; created by input the body receives following each repetition regarding the effect upon the goal movement; variation in parameters are not retained, while movement outcomes are retained

Answer 21

recall schema

Question 22

used to evaluate response in schema theory; the sensory consequences and outcomes of previous similar movements are coupled with the current initial conditions to create a representation of the expected sensory consequence

Answer 22

recognition schema

- Allows a person to determine the expected sensory consequences to assist movement evaluation efficiency

Question 23

How is a schema modification made in schema theory?

Answer 23

through sensory feedback and knowledge of results

Question 24

Why is variability important in motor learning according to schema theory?

Answer 24

variability allows for the movement to translate to accuracy of future movements

Question 25

What are the limitations to schema theory?

Answer 25

1. limited evidence
2. lacks specificity - dress not predict how generalized motor program or the other schemata are created; ladder drill example for successful football season

Question 26

theory that draws heavily from both systems and ecological motor control theory; Allows a person to determine the expected sensory consequences to assist movement evaluation efficiency; perceptual cue is as important as the motor response; emphasizes dynamic exploratory activity in the perceptual/ motor workspace to create optimal strategies for motor performance

Answer 26

ecological theory of motor learning
- motor learning is a process that increases the coordination between perception and action in a way that is consistent with the task and environmental constraints

Question 27

What are the clinical implications of ecological theory of motor learning?

Answer 27

1. Stresses importance of recognizing relevant (regulatory) perceptual cues for movement; i.e., glass half full vs. glass completely full
2. Discrimination of nonregulatory; i.e., color of glass

Question 28

What are the 3 stages of fitts and posner’s theory related to acquisition of motor skills?

Answer 28

1. cognitive - requires incr. attention and has incr. errors
2. associative
3. autonomous

Question 29

What are Bernstein’s 3 stages of motor learning?

Answer 29

1. novice - reduction in # of degrees of freedom of the joints to be be controlled to a minimum in order to make a task easier
2. advanced - begin to release additional DOF by allowing movements at more joints involved in the task
3. expert - release all DOF necessary to perform the task in the most efficient and coordinated way; more efficient use of energy

Question 30

What are the stages of Gentile’s two-stage model of acquisition of motor skills?

Answer 30

1. goal of learner is to develop an understanding of the task dynamics; developing strategy used to complete task; similar to novice stage
2. fixation/ diversification stage; refines movement by developing the capability of adapting the movement to changing the task and environmental demands and performing the task consistently and efficiently; able to perform in both open and closed environment