Chapter 1: Introduction to Motor Learning and Performance

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Chapter 1: Introduction to Motor Learning and Performance.

Motor learning and performance

The study of how motor skills are learned (acquired) and how movement is executed (performed).

Theory

A framework that explains how various phenomena occur; hypotheses are derived from theories and tested experimentally; theories fail if predictions are contradicted.

Hypothesis

A testable statement derived from a theory that can be examined through experimentation.

Scientific method in skills research

Systematic process of formulating hypotheses, testing them with experiments, and drawing conclusions about motor skills.

History of motor learning and performance research

Originally pursued by psychologists and physiologists studying complex skills, neural control, muscle mechanisms, and movement coordination.

Motor skill

An action aimed at achieving a well-defined goal, involving perceiving environmental features, deciding what/when/where to act, and producing organized muscular activity.

Perceiving environmental features

One of the three critical elements of a skill: noticing relevant cues in the environment before acting.

Deciding what to do and where and when to do it

The planning/decision component of a skill that determines action and timing.

Producing organized muscular activity

The execution component where decisions are translated into coordinated muscle movements.

Gross motor skills

Skills that use large muscle groups; movement precision is less critical.

Fine motor skills

Skills that require precise control of smaller muscles; high movement precision is important.

Open skills

Skills performed in environments that are variable and unpredictable.

Closed skills

Skills performed in stable and predictable environments.

Discrete skills

Skills with a distinct beginning and end and brief movement duration.

Continuous skills

Skills with no clear beginning or end; performance extends for minutes or hours.

Serial skills

A sequence of discrete actions linked together; order is usually critical for success.

Object manipulation and body transport

Factors for defining skills based on whether an object is manipulated and whether the body is moving.

Relationship to motor learning

A framework that links skill type, performer attributes, attention, and control processes to performance and learning.

Purpose: Problem-based approach

A method of learning motor concepts through solving real problems and contextualized questions.

Importance: Physical education

Understanding motor learning helps improve the teaching of motor skills.

Importance: Physical therapy

Informs rehabilitation processes and the design of treatment plans.

Importance: Coaches

Informs instruction and practice design to enhance performance.

Importance: Human factors

Explains how human movement interacts with machine tools and environments.

Importance: Athletes

Helps athletes understand and improve motor performance for competition.

Taxonomies for classifying skills

Systems used to categorize skills by attributes such as size, environment, and continuity.

Rationale for developing a conceptual model for motor performance

Creating a framework to understand how skills are performed and learned.