Optimal Variability for Effective Motor Learning

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen Birklbauer
Keyword(s):  
Motor Learning ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Contextual Interference ◽  
Learning Performance ◽  
Practical Training ◽  
Movement Variability ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Differential Learning ◽  
Variable Practice

This thesis addresses different manifestations and practical implementations of movement variability in respect to their beneficial effects on movement coordination and learning. The focal point of this topic is formed by the comparison between the contextual interference paradigm and the differential learning approach, representing two variable practice strategies found to improve motor learning performance under certain conditions. The theoretical backgrounds and empirical findings of each approach are thoroughly reviewed in the first part of this work. These theoretical concepts, and their resultant practical training approaches, arrive at the notion of an optimal magnitude and structure of movement variability that should be encouraged during practice. The second part of this work presents a parallelgroup study designed to contrast the effects of a high contextual interference and schema-based practice regime with two variants of differential training on the adoption of two indoor hockey skills in beginners.

Null Effects of Different Amounts of Task Variation in Both Contextual Interference and Differential Learning Paradigms

2021 ◽  
pp. 003151252110223
Author(s):  
Marcus Schmidt ◽  
Markus Kemena ◽  
Thomas Jaitner
Keyword(s):  
Motor Learning ◽  
Skill Acquisition ◽  
Group Performance ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Contextual Interference ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Weekly Schedule ◽  
Training Groups ◽  
Differential Learning ◽  
Task Variation

Various motor learning approaches, such as Schema Theory, Contextual Interference or Differential Learning, have proposed that varying the task during skill acquisition prompts superior learning. However, past research has mainly compared task variation in an experimental group to no task variation in a control group. Past research has more rarely compared specific intervention groups and/or addressed how varying amounts of task variation may affect skill learning. Our aim in this study was to compare motor learning of golf putting across four groups of novice golfers randomly assigned to these conditions: (a) a contextual interference group who putted at varied putting distances and had varied repetitive weekly schedule patterns, (b) a differential learning group who putted at multiple putting distances, putting amplitudes, and putting movements and had no repetitions, (c) an identical differential learning as in (b) except that participants also varied the putter, and (d) a control group who experienced no practice variations. Participants were 42 university students randomly divided into the four groups. All groups completed eight training sessions of 36 putts per session over four weeks, a pretest, posttest, two retention tests (one and three weeks after posttest) and transfer tasks (different floor). Average hit ratios and minimal distances to the hole were captured and analyzed by Scheirer-Ray-Hare test and Mann-Whitney post-hoc tests. Results showed improved hit ratios from pre- to post-test for all groups, and a stable retention performance for the variable training groups in contrast to the control group ( p = .003). Transfer performance was low for all variable training groups with a significantly lower control group performance on transfer test 2 ( p = .008). In conclusion, variable training schedules in all experimental groups benefited motor learning relative to controls, and differences in the amount of task variation between groups with variable training schedules did not affect skill acquisition.

Review of Motor Learning & Performance: From Principles to Practice.

1993 ◽  
Vol 38 (12) ◽  
pp. 1336-1336
Author(s):  
Terri Gullickson ◽  
Pamela Ramser
Keyword(s):  
Motor Learning ◽  
Learning Performance

scholarly journals Improving novel motor learning through prior high contextual interference training

2018 ◽  
Vol 182 ◽  
pp. 55-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Kim ◽  
J. Chen ◽  
W.B. Verwey ◽  
D.L. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Motor Learning ◽  
Contextual Interference

scholarly journals Neural Excursions from Low-Dimensional Manifold Structure Explain Intersubject Variation in Human Motor Learning

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corson N Areshenkoff ◽  
Daniel J Gale ◽  
Joe Y Nashed ◽  
Dominic Standage ◽  
John Randall Flanagan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Learning ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Dimensional Subspace ◽  
Learning Performance ◽  
Dimensional Manifold ◽  
Learning Abilities ◽  
Manifold Structure ◽  
Electrophysiological Studies ◽  
Low Dimensional

Humans vary greatly in their motor learning abilities, yet little is known about the neural mechanisms that underlie this variability. Recent neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies demonstrate that large-scale neural dynamics inhabit a low-dimensional subspace or manifold, and that learning is constrained by this intrinsic manifold architecture. Here we asked, using functional MRI, whether subject-level differences in neural excursion from manifold structure can explain differences in learning across participants. We had subjects perform a sensorimotor adaptation task in the MRI scanner on two consecutive days, allowing us to assess their learning performance across days, as well as continuously measure brain activity. We find that the overall neural excursion from manifold activity in both cognitive and sensorimotor brain networks is associated with differences in subjects' patterns of learning and relearning across days. These findings suggest that off-manifold activity provides an index of the relative engagement of different neural systems during learning, and that intersubject differences in patterns of learning and relearning across days are related to reconfiguration processes in cognitive and sensorimotor networks during learning.

scholarly journals Mini-Review: practice organization beyond memory processes

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 333-341
Author(s):  
Guilherme M. Lage ◽  
Lidiane A. Fernandes ◽  
Tércio Apolinário-Souza ◽  
Nathálya G. H. M. Nogueira ◽  
Bárbara P. Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Motor Learning ◽  
Perceptual Processing ◽  
Memory Processes ◽  
Oculomotor Behavior ◽  
Practice Organization ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Electroencephalographic Activity ◽  
Variable Practice ◽  
Different Levels

Background: The benefits of variable practice in motor learning have been traditionally explained by the increased demand for memory processes induced by trial-to-trial changes. Recently, a new perspective associating increased demand for perception with variable practice has emerged. Aim: This revision aims to present and discuss the findings in this exciting topic newly opened. Results / Interpretation: In the second half of 2010’s, a number of studies have pointed out differences in perceptual processing when compared variable and repetitive practices. Different levels of (a) hemodynamic activation, (b) electroencephalographic activity, (c) neurochemical activity, and (d) oculomotor behavior have provided evidence that perceptual processes are affected differently by variable and repetitive practices.

Contextual interference and augmented feedback: Is there an additive effect for motor learning?

2011 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1092-1101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Will F.W. Wu ◽  
Doug E. Young ◽  
Steven L. Schandler ◽  
Gily Meir ◽  
Rachel L.M. Judy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Learning ◽  
Contextual Interference ◽  
Additive Effect ◽  
Augmented Feedback

scholarly journals High variability impairs motor learning regardless of whether it affects task performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Cardis ◽  
Maura Casadio ◽  
Rajiv Ranganathan
Keyword(s):  
Motor Learning ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Null Space ◽  
Motor Task ◽  
Task Space ◽  
Movement Variability ◽  
Motor Variability ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
Left And Right

Motor variability plays an important role in motor learning, although the exact mechanisms of how variability affects learning are not well understood. Recent evidence suggests that motor variability may have different effects on learning in redundant tasks, depending on whether it is present in the task space (where it affects task performance) or in the null space (where it has no effect on task performance). We examined the effect of directly introducing null and task space variability using a manipulandum during the learning of a motor task. Participants learned a bimanual shuffleboard task for 2 days, where their goal was to slide a virtual puck as close as possible toward a target. Critically, the distance traveled by the puck was determined by the sum of the left- and right-hand velocities, which meant that there was redundancy in the task. Participants were divided into five groups, based on both the dimension in which the variability was introduced and the amount of variability that was introduced during training. Results showed that although all groups were able to reduce error with practice, learning was affected more by the amount of variability introduced rather than the dimension in which variability was introduced. Specifically, groups with higher movement variability during practice showed larger errors at the end of practice compared with groups that had low variability during learning. These results suggest that although introducing variability can increase exploration of new solutions, this may adversely affect the ability to retain the learned solution.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We examined the role of introducing variability during motor learning in a redundant task. The presence of redundancy allows variability to be introduced in different dimensions: the task space (where it affects task performance) or the null space (where it does not affect task performance). We found that introducing variability affected learning adversely, but the amount of variability was more critical than the dimension in which variability was introduced.

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