Stages of Motor Learning

Fitt’s and Posner’s 3 Stages of Learning

1. Cognitive

2. Associative

3. Autonomous

Cognitive Stage

• Learner attempts to understand nature of skill

• Errors are large and frequent

• Trial and error process (kinematic and kinetic properties)

Kinematic

Form

Kinetic

Force

Associative Stage

• Beginning to understand how parts of the skill are related

• Easier to detect errors in performance and find solutions

• Begins to modify and adapt movement patterns

• FALLS APART WITH DISTRACTION

Autonomous Stage

• Moment is automatic so attention can be elsewhere

• Control of movement is no longer as conscious

• Able to perform consistently with variety

• Errors less frequent, more efficient, and smooth

Neo-Bernsteinian Perspective

• Perception-action coupling

• Learning is process of mastering degrees of freedom to solve motor problems

• Links sensory feedback to motor output

Perception-action coupling

Relationship between learner’s perception and dynamics of environment

Neo-Bernsteinian Perspective Stages

1. Novice Stage

2. Advanced Stage

3. Expert Stage

Novice Stage

Learner simplifies movement by freezing out degrees of freedom

• Rigidly fixes joint angles

• Temporarily constrains and couples joints

Result of novice stage

Stiff movement and unresponsive to environmental stimuli

What does learner focus on in novice stage?

Body: how it looks and what it does

Space: area where body will perform

Advanced Stage

• Release DOF adding larger functional units to action

• Start altering movement kinematics

• Performance is more fluid and adapts to change

What is the learner focused on in the advanced stage?

• Space

• Force application

Expert Stage

• Final DOF are released and reorganized until they’re most efficient

• Can take advantage of passive forces in the environment

What is the learner focusing on in the expert stage?

• Force

• Relationships: body, space, forces

Gentile’s 2 stage model for training through stages

• Consider environment and goals

• Provide instructional strategies

• Transition goals

Transition goals for Gentile’s 2 stage model for training through stages

1. Getting the idea of the movement

2. Fixation vs. diversification

Gentile’s 2 stage model for training through stages steps

1. Getting the idea of movement

2. Fixation vs. Diversification

Getting the idea of the movement

Cognitive: associative stage

Novice: advanced stage

• Learners discover movement needs organization and there are constraints

• Regulatory conditions

• Ignore distractors

• Trainer helps develop strategies

Fixation vs Diversification

Associative: Autonomous Stage

Advanced: Expert Stage

• Learner matches newly acquired movement pattern to environment

• Stable/Closed: consistent movement pattern

• Unpredictable/variable/open: flexible and diverse pattern