Motor Learning & Control – Vocabulary Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the Motor Skill, Motor Learning, Feedback, Practice, and Ergonomics lecture.

Motor skill

An act or task performed to achieve a goal that requires voluntary body or limb movement.

Ability

A general, enduring trait influenced by genetics and learning that underlies skilled performance.

Skill

A task-specific capability that is gained through experience and practice.

Motor abilities

Inherent capabilities that contribute to how motor skill learning occurs.

Characteristics of skillful motor performance

Fast, high-quality output; smooth, effortless movement; anticipation of stimuli; quick response selection.

Gross motor skill

Movement involving large musculature where smoothness is more important than precision (e.g., walking).

Fine motor skill

Movement requiring control of small muscles, often with hand–eye coordination (e.g., writing).

Discrete motor skill

A movement with clearly defined beginning and end points (e.g., throwing a ball).

Continuous motor skill

A cyclic movement with arbitrary beginning and end points (e.g., swimming strokes).

Closed motor skill

Skill performed in a stable, predictable environment; typically self-paced (e.g., golf).

Open motor skill

Skill performed in a changing, unpredictable environment; externally paced (e.g., team sports).

Physical literacy

Confidence and knowledge to move in meaningful ways throughout life.

Fundamental movement skills

Basic movement patterns developed early that underpin lifelong physical activity.

Motor learning

A relatively permanent change in motor task performance resulting from practice.

Sensorimotor adaptation

Error-driven adjustment of movements when environmental or body conditions change.

Skill learning (motor)

Acquiring new muscle activation patterns through practice and repetition for higher performance.

Performance curves

Graphs that track performance level over practice to assess improvement and consistency.

Retention test

Assessment of a learned skill after a delay to judge persistence of performance.

Transfer test

Assessment of a skill in a new situation to evaluate adaptability of learning.

Transfer of learning

The influence a previously practiced skill has on learning a new skill.

Positive transfer

When prior experience facilitates learning a new skill (e.g., surfing → snowboarding).

Negative transfer

When prior experience interferes with learning a new skill; effects are temporary.

Zero transfer

When prior experience has no influence on learning a new skill (e.g., swimming vs. driving).

Bilateral transfer

Performance improvement in one limb resulting from practice with the opposite limb.

Sensory feedback

Information about movement that comes from an individual’s own sensory systems.

Augmented feedback

Externally provided information about performance that supplements intrinsic feedback.

Knowledge of results (KR)

Augmented feedback about the outcome or goal achievement of a movement.

Knowledge of performance (KP)

Augmented feedback about the movement characteristics that produced the outcome.

Qualitative feedback

Descriptive information about movement quality; especially useful for novices.

Quantitative feedback

Numerical information about movement; more helpful for non-novice learners.

Practice variability

Including multiple variations of a skill within practice sessions to enhance learning.

Mental practice

Cognitive rehearsal of a physical skill without actual movement, aiding acquisition and retention.

Ergonomics

The science of fitting jobs, equipment, tools, and environment to the person to improve performance and well-being.