Motor Skills

Information Processing Model

1. Input 2. Sensory system 3. Perceptual system 4. Memory 5. Processor 6. Response organization and effector mechanism

What are the two ways to measure motor performance?

1. Performance Outcome Measures 2. Performance Process Measures

What are the two parts of reaction time?

1. Pre-motor Time 2. Motor Time

One-dimensional Motor Sills Classification Systems

1. Size of musculature 2. Distinctiveness of movements 3. Stability of the environment

What are the four common characteristics of motor skills?

1. There is a goal to achieve - the action has purpose 2. Performed voluntarily 3. Body and/or limb movement 4. Need to be learned

Distinctiveness of the movements

Defining beginning and endpoints of movement Discrete Motor Skills Serial Motor Skills Continuous Motor Skills

Sensory System

Detects environmental information (by using senses)

Electromyography

Electrical activity in the muscle

Memory

Encodes and stores information for later retrieval - allows us to make informed decisions based on what we know

Absolute Error

Estimate of overall size of the error

Input

External info, which enters the Central Nervous System

Processor

Integrates perceptual and memory information and makes a decision - limited system

Gross Motor Skills

Involve large muscles and precision of movement is not that important - smooth coordination of muscles is essential

Performance Process Measures

Measures how aspects of the motor control system are functioning during the performance of an action - e.g., muscles used, joint angles, nervous system activity

Performance Outcome Measures

Measures the outcome or result of performing a motor skill - a limitation is tat this doesn't tell you about how that outcome was achieved

Choice Reaction Time

More than one signal, each with its own response

Discrimination Reaction Time

More than only signal, one response

Kinematics

Motion Qualities without regard to force a) Displacement - how far we've moved b) Velocity - how fast we are moving c) Acceleration - the rate at which we are increasing how fast we are moving

Coordination

Spatial and temporal relationships of limb segments

What is the best classification based on distinctness movement for jogging? a) Discrete Motor Skill b) Serial Motor Skill c) Continuous Motor Skill

c) Continuous Motor Skill

What is the best classification based on distinctness movement for swimming? a) Discrete Motor Skill b) Serial Motor Skill c) Continuous Motor Skill

c) Continuous Motor Skill

What is a motor skill?

A function which involves the precise movement of muscles with the intent to perform a specific act

Serial Motor Skills

A series of discrete motor skills performed in a specific order

Discrete Motor Skills

Clearly defined beginning and endpoints

Stability of the environment

Closed Motor Skills Open Motor Skills

Continuous Motor Skills

No obvious beginning and endpoints

Are reflexes motor skills ?

No; but trained reactions are

Simple Reaction Time

One signal, one response

Perceptual System

Organizes and classifies environmental information (into meaningful units, or identifying what the information is)

Response Organization and Effector Mechanism

Organizes the appropriate motor commands and sends them to the muscles

Closed Motor Skills

Performed in a stable and predictable environment - a self-paced task - the object waits to be acted on by the performer

Open Motor Skills

Performed in an ever-changing, unpredictable environment - an externally- paced task - performer needs to react to the environment to be successful

What stops continuous motor skills?

Performer or external forces - finish line, stop light, motivation, opponent, fatigue

Size of musculature

Precision of movement Gross Motor Skills Fine Motor Skills

Constant Error

Provides information on overall direction of error

Common Motor Performance Measures

Reaction Time Movement Time Amount of Error

Fine Motor skills

Require control of small muscles to achieve a goal - usually involve a high degree of precision of movement and hand-eye coordination

Variable Error

The standard deviation of performance

Reaction Time

The time interval between the presentation of a signal and the initiation of movement - simple, choice, and discrimination reaction time

Movement Time

The time interval between the start of a movement and its completion

Motor Time

Time between first muscle electromyography activity and observable movement - not directly observable

Pre-Motor Time

Time between the signal and the first change in electromyography activity in the muscle Represents time to : - receive and interpret the signal - develop an action plan - convey information to muscles

Performance Errors

Used to determine whether or not the goal of the movement was achieved - absolute error - constant error - variable error

Kinetics

Various internal and external forces acting on the body - e.g., joint muscles (internal) and/or gravity and friction forces (external)

What is the best classification based on distinctness movement for dart throwing? a) Discrete Motor Skill b) Serial Motor Skill c) Continuous Motor Skill

a) Discrete Motor Skill

What is the best classification based on distinctness movement for flipping a light switch? a) Discrete Motor Skill b) Serial Motor Skill c) Continuous Motor Skill

a) Discrete Motor Skill

Performance Process Measures

a) Kinematics b) Kinetics c) Electromyography (EMG) d) Coordination

What is the best classification based on distinctness movement for a dance routine? a) Discrete Motor Skill b) Serial Motor Skill c) Continuous Motor Skill

b) Serial Motor Skill

What is the best classification based on distinctness movement for a gymnastics routine? a) Discrete Motor Skill b) Serial Motor Skill c) Continuous Motor Skill

b) Serial Motor Skill