Motor Learning and Performance Overview

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Questions and Answers

Which performance variable is associated with the learner's psychological state?

Physical conditions

Practice schedule

Instructions

Motivation (correct)

What does 'observable behavior' refer to in motor performance?

Long-term retention of motor skills

Inferred skill levels based on performance

Visible actions and outcomes of a skill (correct)

The mental processes during skill execution

Which performance characteristic indicates a person's ability to replicate movement over time?

Anxiety

Fatigue

Consistency (correct)

Improvement

What aspect of the learning environment might be influenced by the weather?

Physical conditions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an influence on motor performance?

Retention of learned skills Signup and view all the answers

Which performance variable focuses on the individual's preparedness and readiness to learn?

Alertness Signup and view all the answers

In what way does motor performance differ from motor learning?

Performance is a temporary display, while learning is more permanent. Signup and view all the answers

What does a transfer test primarily measure?

The effectiveness of skill adaptation to new conditions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the adaptability aspect of learning?

It measures how skills can generalize to new situations Signup and view all the answers

The strength of learning as measured by transfer tests is indicative of what?

How well skills can be applied in different contexts Signup and view all the answers

In the context of transfer tests, what does 'generalizability' refer to?

The transfer of skills from one task to another unrelated task Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of learning does mean movement time indicate in transfer tests?

The efficiency of skill application in various conditions Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of motor learning?

A set of processes associated with practice or experience leading to relatively permanent changes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes motor performance?

Observable behavior in executing a skill at a specific time Signup and view all the answers

How can the effectiveness of motor learning be measured?

By analyzing performance variables and performance curves Signup and view all the answers

Which term represents a permanent change in a person's capability to perform a skill?

Acquisition Signup and view all the answers

What is retention in the context of motor learning?

Maintaining performance of a skill after a period without practice Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding the acquisition of motor skills?

It involves practice or experience leading to lasting capability improvements Signup and view all the answers

What can affect motor performance according to the definition provided?

The specific conditions and situations under which skills are executed Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best distinguishes motor learning from motor performance?

Motor performance reflects observable behavior, while motor learning is a process leading to skill improvement. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three methods for assessing motor learning?

Acquisition, Retention, and Transfer Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is required for all three methods of assessing motor learning?

Repeated observations over time Signup and view all the answers

In the context of assessing motor learning, what does 'acquisition' refer to?

The initial learning phase of a motor skill Signup and view all the answers

Which method focuses on the ability to perform a skill after a delay?

Retention Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the 'transfer' method in assessing motor learning?

The ability to apply learned skills to new contexts Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statement is NOT related to the methods for assessing motor learning?

Acquisition, retention, and transfer can all be measured in a single trial. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the negatively accelerating performance curve?

Improvements may stop for a period, indicating a plateau. Signup and view all the answers

How is mean movement time significant in motor performance observations?

It provides insight into the efficiency of skill execution. Signup and view all the answers

What does the retention interval refer to in the assessment of motor learning?

The time between acquisition and testing Signup and view all the answers

What does an asymptote represent in a performance curve?

The maximum achievable performance level. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding performance plateaus?

Learning can still continue even during plateaus. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the Power Law of Practice?

It indicates a negatively accelerating relationship with practice. Signup and view all the answers

How do performance curves change in later stages of learning?

They may merge into a negatively accelerating pattern. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about learning during plateaus is incorrect?

Plateaus are times of no learning. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to performance when practice is continued beyond the asymptote?

Performance cannot exceed the asymptote. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of performance curve is most commonly observed?

Negatively accelerating curve. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of retention tests?

To assess the long-term permanence of learned skills Signup and view all the answers

Why should retention tests be performed after sufficient time has passed?

To allow performance variables' effects to dissipate Signup and view all the answers

In what way do retention tests provide a better measure of learning compared to acquisition tests?

They indicate permanent changes in performance Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of learning does retention testing primarily demonstrate?

Permanency of performance changes over time Signup and view all the answers

What is typically measured during a retention test?

Permanent changes in performance ability Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant characteristic of retention tests?

They assess skills after a time interval post-acquisition Signup and view all the answers

During retention tests, what effect do performance variables have?

They should be minimized by allowing time to pass Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a benefit of conducting retention tests?

They validate the permanence of learning over time Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to describe and differentiate between motor performance and motor learning.
They should understand how motor learning is measured, and be familiar with different performance variables and curves.
Students should comprehend the concepts of acquisition, retention, and transfer in motor learning.

Definition of Motor Learning

Motor skills are learned physical behaviors.
Motor learning is a set of processes linked to practice and experience, leading to lasting changes in skilled performance. A change in skill ability that lasts.
This changed ability is permanent and accessible later.

Definition of Motor Performance

Motor performance is observable behavior, showing skill execution in a specific time and situation.
Performance can vary depending on conditions and situations. Variables impacting performance include alertness, self-confidence, motivation, fatigue, anxiety, instructions, demonstrations, feedback, practice schedule, practice specificity, physical conditions (like weather), equipment, floor surface and the presence of a crowd.

Comparing Motor Performance and Learning

Motor performance is observable behavior (what you can see). It may just be temporary changes in performance. Motor performance is impacted by performance variables.
Motor learning is inferred from performance (cannot be directly observed). It refers to relatively permanent behavioral changes. Motor learning isn't impacted by performance variables.

Performance Characteristics of Skill Learning

Five key characteristics of skill learning include:
- Improvement: Skill level increases over time.
- Consistency: Performance outcomes and movements become more similar.
- Stability: External/internal disruptions to skill performance (perturbations) lessen with learning.
- Persistence: Improved skill capability lasts for longer periods, being more permanent.
- Adaptability: Skill can be applied in varied situations.

Measuring Motor Learning

Motor skill learning is inferred from performance.
Performance can be shown and measured graphically using a performance curve, plotting performance measurement levels over time.
Performance is measured on the vertical axis, and time (or number of trials) on the horizontal.

The Shape of Performance Curves

Four basic patterns include:
- Linear: Learning happens proportionally over time.
- Positively accelerating: Most learning happens later in practice.
- Negatively accelerating: Most learning occurs at the start of practice; inverse of this would be positively accelerating as learned behaviour gets more stable.
- S-shaped (Ogive): Learning accelerates in the middle phase of practice.

Performance Curve Plateaus & Asymptotes

Negatively accelerating curves are common, showing the power law of practice.
Plateaus in performance are normal, with continued learning despite plateaus.
An asymptote is the maximal performance.

Merging of Performance Curves

Initial learning phases are often different in shape.
In later learning phases, different shaped curves might merge into a negative accelerating curve pattern. This shows the power law of practice and asymptote that is usually shown.

Assessing Motor Learning—Measuring Performance

Three methods to assess motor learning from motor performance observations include acquisition, retention, and transfer.
All three methods require repeated observations.

Acquisition

Acquisition is the direct measurement of performance during practice.
All practice attempts are recorded and changes in performance tracked to understand how much, how quickly and the progress of learning a new skill during practice.
A series of acquisition measurements can be graphed as a performance curve.

Retention

Retention tests measure the lasting effects of learning; they are performed after acquisition trials and assess if practiced behavior persists post the initial practice.
Retention tests measure permanent changes in performance, not temporary variations.
It shows the permanence or staying power of learning.

Transfer

Transfer tests assess a skill's adaptability to new, non-practiced, or different conditions.
It measures the ability to adapt a learned skill in diverse situations. It shows generalizability of acquired skill or behaviour.

Transfer of Learning

Functional exercise prescription is a form of skill transfer. This is used by Physiotherapists for prescribing exercises that transfers to broader activities and skills or to workplace tasks.

Points for the Movement Instructor

Good performance doesn't always indicate true learning.
Learning can be misjudged by external factors in the practice session.
Evaluate consistency and retention to gauge the level of learning and understanding in the learner.
Performance plateaus are normal, use encouragement to help the learner overcome plateaus if needed and continue towards their learning and practice sessions.

Lecture Summary

Motor learning is different from motor performance.
Motor learning is inferred from performance measurements.
Performance curves show learning improvement patterns.
Retention and transfer tests show persistence and adaptability of skill learning during retention and transfer exercises or tasks.

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Description

This quiz covers the essential concepts of motor learning and motor performance. Students will describe and differentiate between these topics, understand their measurement, and explore the key variables affecting each. Additionally, it addresses acquisition, retention, and transfer in motor learning.