Unit 5.2 Flashcards
What is information processing
The system by which we take information from our surrounding environment, use it to make a decision and then produce a response
Describe a simple model of information processing
Information processing - the system by which we take information from our surrounding
environment, use it to make a decision and then produce a response
input – decision-making – output – feedback
In response to input stimuli, the performer perceives the stimulus, and recounts by
executing an appropriate output, after their brain goes through the decision making process.
Feedback is then often given, so that the response can be altered to be made better if
necessary.
Example - Penalty kick in football:
Input: the goalie observes the angle of the kicker
Decision Making: the goalie makes a decision on where to dive
Output: the goalie follows with a diving movement
Feedback: the brain receives feedback on the movement, which is applicable for the next shot
Describe Welford’s model of information processing
Sense Organs and Internal Sensors:
Sense Organs: These are specialized organs that receive external stimuli. Examples include:
Eyes (Vision): Detect visual stimuli like movement, color, and light.
Ears (Hearing): Capture auditory stimuli such as sounds or calls.
Skin (Touch): Senses pressure, temperature, and pain.
Nose (Smell) and Tongue (Taste): Detect chemical stimuli.
Internal Sensors: These are receptors that detect changes within the body. Examples include:
Proprioceptors: Located in muscles, tendons, and joints, they give information about body position and movement.
Vestibular System: Located in the inner ear, it provides information about balance and head position.
Perception:
This is the process of recognizing, organizing, and interpreting sensory information. It involves:
Filtering out irrelevant information.
Comparing new information with existing knowledge from memory.
Recognizing patterns and making sense of the stimuli.
Short-Term Memory (STM):
A temporary storage area for information currently being processed.
Limited in both capacity (can hold a limited number of items) and duration (items decay or are displaced).
Acts as a workspace for making decisions.
Decision Making:
The brain evaluates the information from STM and compares it with past experiences in LTM.
Multiple potential responses are weighed, and the most appropriate action is selected based on the current context.
Long-Term Memory (LTM):
This is where information is stored permanently.
It houses our past experiences, learned skills, knowledge, and strategies.
LTM plays a crucial role in influencing our perception and decision-making processes.
Effector Control:
This stage translates the selected decision into a motor program or a set of muscle commands.
It ensures that the movement is coordinated and controlled.
Effectors:
These are the parts of the body that carry out the motor commands.
Typically, they are the muscles and glands. For instance, when deciding to kick a ball, the leg muscles (effectors) are activated to perform the kick.
Outline the components associated with sensory input
Exteroceptors
Provide information from outside of the body (touch, pressure, temperature, light, sound, taste, smell)
Interceptors
Detect information from within the body (e.g. baroreceptors, chemoreceptors and proprioceptors)
Proprioceptors
Detect and inform CNS for body position and limb movement
Explain the signal-detection process
It is referencing to the “perception” part of the information process.
Signal detection (perception) is the process by which the brain makes sense of the stimuli received
short term memory stores large amounts of information for a very short time
Selective attention looks out for anticipated stimuli
Selected stimuli is then compared to long term memory to select appropriate response
This is referred to as the detection comparison recognition process (DCR)
signal detection process consists of detection, comparison and recognition ‹DCR›✔
it is the process by which the brain interprets and makes sense of the information it is receiving from the sensory organs✔
the most important sensory information present in the environment, are generally visual and auditory✔
detection is the process by which the brain identifies that a stimulus is present✔
comparison is when we attend to something we have sensed and compare it to information in long-term memory✔
recognition occurs when the code of the incoming information matches a code stored in the long-term memory✔
detection of a signal is dependent on the intensity of the signal compared to the intensity of the background noise✔
background noise is non-essential information such as auditory information or information from within the individual such as worrying about failure✔
likelihood of detection is influenced by sensitivity of sense organs eg eyes✔
likelihood of detection is influenced by experience with familiar signals✔
arousal level can impact on detection. Low arousal will see the signal missed, over arousal can see detection of a signal that does not exist✔
signal detection proficiency can be improved by ensuring the performer is optimally aroused and be aided by selective attention✔
selective attention can be improved through learning from past experience✔
- Distinguish between the characteristics of short-term sensory store, short-term
memory and long-term memory
Short-term Sensory Store:
- Information enters the sensory system and is held there for a short period of time
- Separate sections for each sense
- Large capacity but for less than a second
- Filters out irrelevant information so that the system doesn’t overload
- It cannot retrieve previous information
Short-term Memory:
- Holds information for several seconds, it can hold 5-9 items
- Low capacity and short duration
- Deals with present information
Long-term Memory:
- Stores information from past experiences
- Unlimited capacity - not everything can be retrieved
- Information can be stored for a very long time
Discuss the relationship between selective attention and memory and explain how it
can be applied to a games player
Selective attention - a type of memory where you can only focus on one thing or on two
things that require different areas of the brain
- Memory and selective attention play a role in the competitive play of sport, where
performers must recall and retrieve information from the long-term store of their
memory, but utilize the skill of selective attention in order to only recall the
memories vital for the skill being performed
- Attention filters incoming information, allowing only relevant information into
short-term processing stores
- Selective attention is very important when accuracy or fast responses are required
- It can be improved by learning through past experience and interaction with
long-term memory
Sporting Example:
In a football game when passing the ball, you may remember all of the training you have
done on the skill and other variations of the move, but with the aid of selective attention,
you recall and only think about where you have to go, in the position you are in and the
situation you are in.
Compare different methods of memory improvement
Rehearsal - repeating a certain skill over and over until it is memorized
Coding - associating information with images so it can be recalled with those associations
Clarity - learning information that is clear and simple will make it easies to remember
Chunking - breaking up information so it is easily remembered
Organization - if information is clear and in a logical format it is easier to recall
Brevity - information should be kept brief so that it can processed easily
Define the term response time
response time = reaction time + movement
Reaction Time - from the initiation of the stimulus to the initiation of a movement
Movement - from the initiation of the movement to the end of the movement
- Takes part in your brain and nervous system
Outline factors that determine response time
- Sex and age
- Level of fitness
- Fatigue/tiredness
- Personality type
- Number of stimuli
- Intensity of stimuli
- Length of neural pathways (if you are tall it takes longer)
Hicks Law - the more choices you have the longer it will take to decide
Evaluate the concept of the psychological refractory period (PRP)
- The task related to the first stimulus must be fully carried out before the second
response can be made. The overlap is called the psychological refractory period - The PRP is the increase in RT to a second stimulus caused when the second stimulus
has been delivered while the performer is responding to the first stimulus - Player has to sort out new and correct stimulus, but first they have to disregard the
old and now useless stimulus and this causes the delay - Brain processes one action at a time causing a time delay in responding to the
second stimulus
Single Channel Hypothesis - you can only deal with one stimulus at the time, so the first
stimulus needs to be attended before you respond to the second stimulus
Strengths of PRP
- can be used to help a performer have
greater chances of success - provides a performer with a greater range
of options in their play - external noise eg other players calling, or
crowd noise can enhance the effectiveness
of the PRP (Hick’s law)
Weaknesses of PRP
- if a performer uses it too often, they will
become predictable and this limits success - anxiety might make the performer get the
timing wrong and thus the PRP is not
effective
Describe a motor program
Motor programme - a set of movements stored as a whole in the memory regardless of whether feedback is available or no
Examples most skills (hitting, catching, throwing a ball)
Whole Plan (executive programme/motor programme) and subroutines:
In order to successfully perform a motor skill, the performer is required to have a whole plan that specifies the timing and sequence of the movement. This motor programme can be broken down into smaller actions that are called subroutines.
Coordination of subroutines:
In order for a motor programme to be completed successfully, all subroutines must be coordinated, both temporally and spatially. This is why skills are initially taught in a closed environment as performers are less exposed to unpredictable situations.
Releagating executive programmes to subroutines:
A learned skill may initially form a new motor programme, but over time, this skill may be relegated to a subroutine, i.e. learning to drive a car, but then becoming a race car driver, you do not have to focus on the skill of actually driving a car.
5.2.12 - Compare motor programmes from both open and closed loop perspectives
Open loop model:
Performance of a skill without recourse to feedback
Explains how we carry out very fast movements
Fast movements such as a tennis serve, golf swing - you can’t use the feedback to
make changes when you are doing the action
Closed loop model:
Altering a movement during its execution (returning a slow tennis serve, Cycling/running - you can use your feedback to make changes and improve your action)
Perceptual trace- Memory for the feel of successful past experiences/movements (the ongoing movement)
Memory trace- Controls the selection and initiation of the movement
