Motor Learning and Information Processing

Practice flashcards based on concepts related to motor learning and the stages of information processing.

Reaction Time (RT)

The interval between the presentation of a stimulus and the beginning of the response.

Movement Time (MT)

The period of time from the end of the reaction time until the completion of the movement.

Response Time

The total time taken which is the sum of reaction time and movement time.

Stimulus Identification Stage

The first stage of information processing where the presence of a stimulus is detected and interpreted.

Response Selection Stage

The second stage of information processing where an appropriate response to the stimulus is chosen.

Movement Programming Stage

The third stage of information processing focused on organizing the motor system to execute the selected response.

Hick's Law

A principle stating that reaction time increases logarithmically with the number of stimulus-response alternatives.

Stimulus-Response Compatibility

The extent to which the stimulus and the response are connected in a natural or intuitive way.

Anticipation

A strategy employed to shorten reaction time by predicting upcoming events based on cues.

Closed Skills

Skills that are performed in a predictable environment, leading to faster reaction times.

Open Skills

Skills that are performed in unpredictable environments and require more processing time due to varying conditions.

Bimanual Coordination

The ability to coordinate movements of both limbs, which is generally simpler for the motor system when structured in a single rhythm.