Motor Learning

Cognitive Stage

• “What to do” decisions

• Extrinsic feedback

• KR → KP

• Blocked practice

• Distributed practice

• Mental practice

• Relies of visual cues

• “Trial and error”

Associated Stage

• “How to do it” decision

• Intrinsic feedback

• Variable practice (serial/random)

• Proprioceptive cues

• Open, changing environment

• Feedback summed

Autonomous Stage

• “How to succeed”

• Little interference from environment

• Random practice

• Massed practice

• Ready for home, community, work

Knowledge of Results

Outcome of movement

Ie. yes or no, you walked 10 ft today, you passed your exam

Simple tasks: feedback given every 15 reps

Complex tasks: feedback given every 5 reps

Knowledge of Performance

Specific details regarding movement characteristics

Ie. “You should bend your knees more as you walk”

Early stages: focus on correct aspects of performance (KR)

Later stages: focus on errors as they become consistent (KP)

Concurrent Feedback

Feedback that is provided during the task

Terminal Feedback

Feedback that is provided at the end of the task

Summed/summary Feedback

• After a set number of trials

• Better for retention

Bandwidth-KR Feedback

Feedback given only when performance deviated outside the boundaries of correct performance

Blocked Practice

• Single motor skill is repeated; used at the beginning of learning; with decreased cognitive ability

• Ie. AAABBBCCC

Random Practice

• Group of motor skills in random or unpredictable order; better for retention

• Ie. ABCBACCAB

• Random = Retention

Serial Practice

• Group of motor skills in a serial or predictable order

• Ie. ABBABBABB

Variable Practice

• Practice varied motor skills

• Required to make rapid modifications of skill in order to match task demands

Mass Practice

• Working time > rest

• Preferred for discrete tasks (ie. throwing a ball)

• Fatigue decreases performance → be aware of fatigue

Distributed Practice

• Rest > working time

• Used if individual has low endurance or fatigue or is mentally “checked out”

• Preferred for continuous tasks, superior performance

• Preferred most of the time