Motor Behavior Basics
What term describes the study of how humans acquire and perform movement skills?
Motor Behavior
What is the first stage of motor learning?
Cognitive Stage
What type of feedback comes from the senses during movement?
Intrinsic feedback
What type of practice includes rest intervals between attempts?
Distributed practice
What is transfer of learning?
Transfer of learning is the influence of learning one skill on the performance of another skill.
What is the difference between motor learning and motor performance?
Motor learning refers to a relatively permanent change in the ability to perform a skill; motor performance is the observable execution of a skill at a specific time.
During which stage do movement errors begin to decrease?
Associative Stage
What type of feedback is provided by a coach or teacher?
Extrinsic feedback
What type of practice involves very little rest?
Massed practice
What is positive transfer?
Positive transfer occurs when learning one skill improves performance of another.
Which term refers to a relatively permanent change in the ability to perform a skill?
Motor Learning
In which stage does performance become automatic with little conscious thought?
Autonomous stage
What is the difference between knowledge of results (KR) and knowledge of performance (KP)?
KR provides information about the outcome of a movement; KP provides information about the quality or technique of the movement.
Why is distributed practice often better for beginners?
It reduces fatigue, improves concentration, and allows better processing of feedback.
What is negative transfer?
Negative transfer occurs when learning one skill interferes with performance of another.
Why can performance improve or decline without actual learning occurring?
Performance can change due to factors like motivation, fatigue, stress, or environment without permanent learning occurring.
What role does feedback play during the cognitive stage?
Feedback helps learners understand what the task is, correct major errors, and develop a basic movement pattern.
Which type of feedback is most helpful for beginners and why?
Extrinsic feedback, because beginners need external information to understand errors and proper technique.
What is variability of practice?
Practice that varies conditions, movements, or environments rather than repeating the same skill identically.
Give an example of transfer of learning in sports or physical activity.
Answers will vary (e.g., soccer footwork improving agility in basketball).
How does motivation influence motor behavior?
Motivation increases effort, focus, persistence, and willingness to practice, which enhances motor learning.
Why is it difficult to disrupt performance during the autonomous stage?
Because movements are automatic and require little conscious control, making performance more stable and resistant to distraction.
How can too much feedback negatively affect motor learning?
Too much feedback can cause dependency and prevent learners from developing internal error-detection skills.
How do random practice conditions affect long-term learning?
Random practice may reduce short-term performance but improves long-term learning and transfer.
How can understanding motor behavior improve coaching or teaching effectiveness?
Understanding motor behavior helps coaches design better practice, provide effective feedback, and improve athlete learning.