Motor Learning

Massed Practice

A sequence of practice and rest times where rest is much less than practice time. ~Fatigue, decreased performance, and risk of injury are factors to consider. ~Consider this schedule when motivation and skill levels are high, & when pt has adequate endurance, attention, and concentration.

Delayed Feedback

Feedback given after a brief time delay, like 5 seconds, to give the learner a brief time for introspection and self assessment. Opposite to bombarding patient immediately after task completion with excess verbal feedback, which prevents active information processing by the learner.

Summed Feedback

Feedback given after a set number of trials (ie. after every other trial or every 3rd trial)

Faded Feedback

Feedback given at first after every trial, and then less frequently

Bandwidth Feedback

Feedback given only when performance is outside a given error range.

Varied Feedback Schedules

Includes Summed feedback, faded feedback, and bandwidth feedback.

Random Practice

Practice sequence in which a variety of tasks are ordered randomly across trials. ~Shown to have superior long-term effects for retention. ~Constant challenge of varying tasks provides high contextual interference, thereby increasing depth of cognitive processing with retrieval practice from memory stores.

Blocked Practice

Practice sequence organized around one task performed repeatedly, uninterrupted by practice of any other task.

Distributed Practice

Spaced practice intervals in which practice time is equal to or less than rest time. ~Results in the most learning per training time, and is the preferred mode. ~Beneficial if motivation is low, attention span is short, concentration is poor, or motor planning deficits are present. ~Beneficial if task is complex, long, or has high energy cost.

Knowledge of Results Feedback

~Feedback about the end result or overall outcome of a movement ~Focus on success of movement outcome ~Provides key information about shaping overall movements for next attempt ~Less influence on accuracy of movements

Knowledge of Performance Feedback

~Feedback about the nature or quality of movement pattern produced ~Focus on errors as they become consistent, not on a large number of random errors. ~Focus on key task elements

Autonomous Stage of Motor Learning

~Final stage ~Motor performance that is mostly automatic due to considerable practice (minimal cognitive monitoring) ~The motor programs can almost "run themselves" and are highly coordinated & organized ~Usually error free ~Can perform well in stable/closed or changing/open environments ~Provide occasional Knowledge of Performance or Results when errors are evident ~Stress consistency of performance in variable environments ~MASSED PRACTICE is best here

Cognitive Stage of Motor Learning

~Initial stage of learning ~Must develop a cognitive map of the skill; an overall understanding of the skill ~Vision heavily relied on for an external REFERENCE OF CORRECTNESS ~Trial and error practice leads to uneven performance with frequent errors ~Improvements are readily observed ~Use KNOWLEDGE OF PERFORMANCE and KNOWLEDGE OF RESULTS feedback ~Break whole task into components ~Instruct in mental practice ~Must reduce extraneous environmental stimuli

Associative Stage of Motor Learning

~Middle/second stage ~Refinement of movement with coordinated pattern developing ~Greater consistency with fewer errors & extraneous movements in performance ~Proprioceptive cues are incredibly important so person gets the "feel of the movement" for establishing an internal reference of correctness. ~Continue to give Knowledge of Performance when errors become consistent ~Continue to give Knowledge of Results for success of movement outcomes and functional relevance ~Facilitation and guided movements can be counterproductive here ~Give variable feedback (summed, fading, bandwidth) to increase depth of cognitive processing ~Progress toward open, changing environment to prepare for home, community, work, etc.