Taxonomy of Tasks

Question 1

Regulatory Environmental Conditions

Answer 1

• The features of the environment to which the movement must mold
• Learner must match the spatial and temporal characteristics
  ex) density of foam

Question 2

Non-regulatory Environmental Conditions

Answer 2

• Background features of the environment, irrelevant features
• Unnecessary for goal attainment
• Distractible patients must learn to ignore the non-regulatory features of the environment
  ex) color of foam

Question 3

Stationary

Answer 3

-Environment or terrain or support surface is fixed and objects or people are stationary

• free to decide when to start and stop a movement
• free to decide how long to continue a movement

Question 4

Motion

Answer 4

-Environment or terrain or support surface, objects or other people are in motion

• must match both spatial & temporal characteristics of the environment
• must interpolate or extrapolate information

Question 5

Inter-trial variability - absent

Answer 5

• regulatory conditions remain the same
• monitor the environment decreases
• free to direct attention elsewhere

Question 6

Inter-trial variability - present

Answer 6

• regulatory conditions change
• more variable movements with practice
• requires attention & on-going problem solving
• movements more diversified, flexible and adaptable

Question 7

Closed tasks

Answer 7

-object or environment is/are stationary & do/does not change from trial to trail

Ex) bowling alley lane

Question 8

Consistent Motion tasks

Answer 8

• the motion of the object(s) or environment stays the same during repeated trials
  ex) treadmill

Question 9

Variable Motionless tasks

Answer 9

-object(s) or environment is/are stationary during the present trial but may vary in position, configuration, texture, etc. during the next trial(s)

Question 10

Open tasks

Answer 10

-object(s) or environment is/are in motion and conditions change during this trial &/or upon the next trial(s)

Question 11

Body Orientation - Stabilization

Answer 11

• information processing demands are low

- boundaries are fixed to an area surrounding the performer (stays the same)

Question 12

Body Orientation - Transportation

Answer 12

• information processing demands are high
• boundaries of are constantly expanding in accord with the rate of motion (constantly moving)
• may slow down to adjust time to process information

Question 13

Manipulation of Objects - absent

Answer 13

-UEs/hands yoked (connected) to postural system

Ex) walking - arm swing, sitting with UE support, dynamic posture- UE as part of equilibrium reaction, walking with a cane

Question 14

Manipulation of Objects - present

Answer 14

• requires freeing the UEs/ hands from the postural system
• requires significant attentional demands (multi-tasking or dual-tasks)
  ex) carry a glass of water or reading a flyer while walking

Question 15

Practical application of the taxonomy of tasks

Answer 15

• Guide for Evaluation and Intervention
• Selection of functionally appropriate activities
• Chart progress
• Insight into the nature of skill acquisition