P 90. Motor performance improvements following tDCS and skill practice in older adults: Implications for motor skill training

Abstract The study purpose was to identify the effects of a motor skill training intervention to improve gait speed on community mobility among community-dwelling older adults. The study included 249 participants randomized to standard physical therapy or a standard plus motor skill training program. Community mobility was measured using the Life Space Assessment (LSA) and GPS at baseline, 12 (post-intervention), 24 and 36 weeks. There were 124 participants (M age=77.4±6.7; 68.6% female; LSA: 76.2±17.6) randomized to the standard plus and 125 (M age=77.4±6.4; 62.4% female; LSA: 74.3±18.2) to the standard group. There was no significant between-group difference in pre- or post-intervention LSA scores and no significant pre- to post-intervention change over time in either group. GPS results are pending. While there were no differences in self-reported LSA, we anticipate objective GPS measurement of community mobility will better capture post-intervention changes and differences between groups.

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Can Physical Tools that Adapt their Shape based on a Learner’s Performance Help in Motor Skill Training?

Proceedings of the Fifteenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction ◽

10.1145/3430524.3440636 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dishita G Turakhia ◽

Yini Qi ◽

Lotta-Gili Blumberg ◽

Andrew Wong ◽

Stefanie Mueller

Keyword(s):

Motor Skill ◽

Skill Training ◽

Motor Skill Training ◽

Physical Tools

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A Hierarchical Model of Motor Skill for Haptic-assisted Virtual Reality Training

International Journal of Virtual Reality ◽

10.20870/ijvr.2010.9.3.2782 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 75-80

Author(s):

Dangxiao Wang ◽

Yuru Zhang ◽

Jun Wu

Keyword(s):

Motor Skills ◽

Motor Skill ◽

Skill Training ◽

Training System ◽

Fine Motor ◽

Generic Model ◽

Coupling Mechanism ◽

Proposed Model ◽

Motor Skill Training ◽

Task Level

Model of motor skill pattern is a fundamental component to support feedback mechanism in haptic-assisted motor skill training. Because of the diversity of manipulation tasks in real world, it is a challenge to construct a generic model for various motor skill patterns. Considering fine motor skill mediated by a rigid tool, criteria for a general model of motor skill are identified: generality, quantifiable representation and the capability to support real-time error computation. A hierarchical motor skill model is proposed in a two-level architecture: the spatial-temporal coupling mechanism in task level and the quantified representation in action level. The purpose of task level is to decompose a motor skill into basic elements that can be described with quantified representation. The purpose of the action level is to give quantified representation in each single dimension in the Cartesian Space. Based on the combinations of independent variants, mapping functions in the action level are classified as five basic types. The proposed model can provide a systematical view to compare various motor skills in literatures, and thus can help us to identify unexplored topics in haptic-enabled motor skill training area. Furthermore, examples of two motor skill tasks show that the proposed model can provide a systematic way to design training system for complex motor skills.

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Long-term motor skill training with individually adjusted progressive difficulty enhances learning and promotes corticospinal plasticity

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-72139-8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lasse Christiansen ◽

Malte Nejst Larsen ◽

Mads Just Madsen ◽

Michael James Grey ◽

Jens Bo Nielsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skill Acquisition ◽

Neural Plasticity ◽

Motor Skill ◽

Task Difficulty ◽

Skill Training ◽

Skill Learning ◽

Precise Control ◽

Visuomotor Task ◽

Motor Skill Training

Abstract Motor skill acquisition depends on central nervous plasticity. However, behavioural determinants leading to long lasting corticospinal plasticity and motor expertise remain unexplored. Here we investigate behavioural and electrophysiological effects of individually tailored progressive practice during long-term motor skill training. Two groups of participants practiced a visuomotor task requiring precise control of the right digiti minimi for 6 weeks. One group trained with constant task difficulty, while the other group trained with progressively increasing task difficulty, i.e. continuously adjusted to their individual skill level. Compared to constant practice, progressive practice resulted in a two-fold greater performance at an advanced task level and associated increases in corticospinal excitability. Differences were maintained 8 days later, whereas both groups demonstrated equal retention 14 months later. We demonstrate that progressive practice enhances motor skill learning and promotes corticospinal plasticity. These findings underline the importance of continuously challenging patients and athletes to promote neural plasticity, skilled performance, and recovery.

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