transfer of motor learning

transfer of learning

occurs when prior learning or experience affects subsequent learning of new skill or old skill new environment or context

types of transfer of learning

• positive, negative, neutral

• based similarity of previous and new skill, environment or context

  • similarity of movement techniques, environmental features, cognitive demands

positive transfer of learning

• when prior learning or experience facilitates learning

• skills, environments, or contexts must have HIGH similarity (few diffs)

  • similarities in absence of key diffs will facilitate learning

negative transfer

• when prior learning or experience impedes learning

• skills, environments, or contexts must have similarities and key differences

  • key diffs impeded learning despite apparent similarities

neutral transfer

• occurs when prior learning or exp has no effect on learning

• skills, environments, or contexts must have NO similarities (nothing in common)

  • nothing similar or diff that will facilitate or impede learning

continuum of similarity

• neutral transfer: no similarity

• negative: similarities and diffs

• positive: high similarity

temporal features of transfer learning

• transfer of learning often exhibits temporal changes

• initial positive often precedes later neg transfer

• initial positive when features of prior learning facilitate initial learning of skill

• later neg when features of prior learning impede later learning of skill

bilateral transfer

• transfer from one limb to opposite limb

bimanual transfer

• bilateral transfer from one hand to other hand

bilateral/bimanual transfer

• highly affected by age, handedness, and motor skill

• mediated by neural adaptations that produce transfer to untrained limb

identical elements hypothesis

• movement techniques must be similar w/ similar skill components

  • involves transfer b/w motor processes that mediate how movements are produced

information processing hypothesis

• cognitive demands must be similar (tactics, strats, decision making)

• transfer b/w cognitive processes that mediate motor planning

specificity of learning hypothesis

• environmental fts must be similar (spatial distribution of objects and other ppl)

• transfer b/w perceptual processes that mediate motor planning

optimal transfer learning

• when movement techniques, cognitive demands, and environmental fts are highly similar

• all 3 fts facilitate transfer of learning