KINE 2p05 - Lecture 7

Flashcards based on key terms and concepts from the Motor Learning lecture notes.

Motor Performance

Observable behavior at a particular moment in time, subject to influence by performance variables.

Motor Learning

Relatively permanent change in motor performance due to practice and experience, inferred from performance.

Neuroplasticity

The ability of the brain to show modification, involves changes in synaptic strength and organizational connections between neurons.

Short-term Functional Plasticity

Changes in the strength of connections between nerve cells occurring with practice.

Long-term Memory (LTM)

A relatively permanent store of information, can be declarative or procedural.

Declarative Memory

Memory for facts (semantic) and events (episodic); knowing what to do in a particular movement situation.

Procedural Memory

Memory for skills and actions; knowing how to perform a particular motor skill.

Retention Test

Test of a practiced skill performed following an interval of time, used to assess persistence in motor learning.

Transfer Test

Test that measures the amount of learning that can be transferred to a new context or a different skill.

Improvement

One of the four performance characteristics seen in motor learning, indicating better performance over time.

Consistency

Stability of performance outcomes across trials, an indicator of learning.

Persistence

The ability to perform a learned skill over time, maintaining performance levels after a retention interval.

Adaptability

The ability to apply learned skills to varied contexts or novel situations, assessed during transfer tests.

Performance Variables

Factors that can influence observable performance, including learner attributes, learning context, and performance environment.

Warm-up Decrement

Temporary reduction in performance due to a period of inactivity prior to a retention test, can affect retrieved performance.

Positive Transfer

Facilitation of learning a new skill as a result of previous learning on another skill.

Negative Transfer

Inhibition of learning a new skill due to interference from previous learning.

Zero Transfer

No benefit between learning a previous skill and learning a new skill.

Performance Curve

Graphical representation of performance improvement over practice sessions, illustrating different types of learning curves.

S-shaped Learning Curve

A pattern of learning that initially shows slow improvement, followed by rapid gains and plateaus.

Ceiling Effect

A situation where performance measurement cannot exceed a certain level, potentially misrepresenting actual learning.

Floor Effect

A situation where a performance measure cannot fall below a certain level, limiting assessment of skill gains.

Encoding Specificity Principle

Maximizing similarity between practice and performance conditions to enhance encoding and retrieval.

What does structural plasticity mean?

Structural plasticity refers to changes in the organization and numbers of connections between cells in the brain, allowing it to adapt in response to learning, experiences, or environmental changes.

linear performance curves

Direct relationship between practice and performance, showing consistent improvement over time.

Encoding

motor memory is formed

Consolidation

motor memory becomes more stable over time

Retrieval

Motor memory is accessed for performance or recall in task execution.

Performance curve does not

equal learning curve

Positive accelerating performance curve

At first it takes you longer to show improvement then suddenly you start to quickly improve

Negatively accelerating performance curve

• Reflects the power law of practice

• When learning a new skill there tends to be a large improvement in performance early in progress which slows later in practice

S shaped performance curve

Represents a learning pattern where initial progress is slow, followed by rapid improvement, and then plateaus over time as skill levels off.

• Positive and negative together

Mis interpreting learning: interpreting plateau

1. Reflects consistency = skill learned OR

2. “Learning may still occur in a plateau its just not observable

Mis interpreting learning eg performance plateau

The phenomenon where learners may wrongly assume they have stopped improving, when in fact, learning can occur without visible performance changes. Educationally, this indicates that progress isn't always linear or easily measured.

Performance plateau

• A) learner experiences constant improvement

• B) Learner experiences no improvement (PLATEAU)

• C) Learner experiences further improvement

What is a better indicator of learning?

Retention tests

What do retention tests reflect?

Strength of memory over time

What can performance during practice be?

Performance during practice can be temporary. That is why we use retention tests

Motor performance on retention test assesses

the long-term acquisition and retention of skills. (relatively permanent change)

Persistence

Performance lasts over increasing periods of time

warm up decrement

temporary reduction in performance due to a period of inactivity. Therefore need to provide practice trials

Why do we need to perform practice trials

Due to warm up decrement

What causes performance plateaus?

1. Motivation

2. Attention

3. Arousal

4. Fatigue

5. New strategy

6. Measurement techniques

7. “ceiling” or “floor” effects

Adaptability definition

Even though a relatively permanent change might be observed. can motor skill performance adapt to changes in environmental conditions or task demands.

adaptability during transfer

motor performance on transfer test assesses adaptations to changes in context

transfer test

test measures the amount of learning that can be transferred to a different or similar skill or the original skill in a new context

far transfer

type of transfer of learning that occurs from one task to a different task that is not closely related.

Near transfer or generalization

type of transfer of learning that occurs between tasks that are similar or closely related.

zero transfer (type of transfer)

(Neutral) No transfer between skills

positive transfer (type of transfer)

Facilitation of learning a new skill as a result of previous learning on another skill

Negative transfer (type of transfer)

inhibition of learning a new skill as a result of previous learning on another skill.

Movement elements (parts that can transfer)

Motor patterns leading to a correct performance

Perceptual Elements (Parts that can transfer)

Interpretation of stimuli leading to correct performance

Conceptual Elements (Parts that can transfer)

Guidelines on strategies leading to correct performance

Taking advantage of transfer - Goal: promote positive transfer

1. Analyze the skill (ie movement, perceptual, conceptual)

2. Get to know the learner

3. Make sure the skills you refer to are well learned

4. Determine the cost benefit trade off (any + or - transfer)

5. Point out similarities and differences

6. Maximize similarities between practice (ie encoding) and performance or competition (ie retrieval) - encoding specificity principal