MOTOR LEARNING AND CONTROLKNR 164

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Motor Behavior Motor Control Motor Learning Motor Development

Sometimes used synonymously –but they are different

MOTOR BEHAVIOR

Motor behavior: the study of human movement or action

Motor behavior is a fundamental human function that is essential to virtually all aspirations in life (Sherrington, 1924)

Involves two overlapping themes: Motor control Motor learning

SUBDIVISIONS OF MOTOR BEHAVIOR

Motor control Study of the neurophysiological factors that affect

and maintain human movement The processes that underlie the production of

movement

Motor learning Study of the processes involved in acquiring and

perfecting motor skills

Motor development Process through which we pass during the course

of our life

INTERDISCIPLINARY

There is not only interaction among the subareas of motor behavior, But with biomechanics and exercise physiology

Working together, experts can more accurately detect subtle movement changes and differences

MOTOR DEVELOPMENT

Motor development is the study of changes in human motor behavior over the lifespan, the processes that underlie these changes, and the factors that affect them

The role of motor development is to: Understand present motor behavior

What is happening and why it is happening Understand what this behavior was like in the

past and why Understand what the behavior will be like in the

future

HOW DO PEOPLE ACQUIRE MOTOR SKILLS?

Motor learning is the study of the processes people go through as they acquire and refine motor skills One must also consider the variables that

promote or inhibit the acquisition of these skills

This research influences how instructors, coaches, therapists, and others approach teach and rehabilitation

What variables might promote or inhibit acquisition?

MOTOR LEARNING

“Motor learning is a set of processes associated with practice or experience leading to relatively permanent changes in the capability for movement” Schmidt and Lee (2005)

Motor learning = capability for movement rather than movement itself We must infer that motor learning has occurred

form a change in motor performance

PRECISION OF MOVEMENT

Fine motor skill Involving very precise movements normally

accomplished using smaller musculature

Gross motor skill Places less emphasis on precision and is typically

the result of multi-limb movements

NATURE OF MOVEMENT ORGANIZATION

Discrete Beginning and end points are clearly defined

Serial Composed of a number of discrete skills whose

integrated performance is crucial for goal achievement

Continuous Beginning and ending points are arbitrary

ONCE ACQUIRED, WHAT IS MOTOR CONTROL?

Motor control is the neural, physical, and behavioral aspects of human movement

Does the brain integrate all sensory messages?

Does arousal influence performance? Why do we sometimes forget how to do

something? Why do we know how to do something even

when we haven’t done it in a long time?

MOTOR CONTROL (SCHMIDT, 1991)

At a minimum, motor programs must: Specify the muscles involved in the action Select the order of muscle involvement Determine the forces of muscle contraction Specify the relative timing and sequences of

contractions Determine the duraction of contractions

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

The Society of Neuroscience The International Brain Research

Organization The International Society for Motor Control The North American Society for Psychology of

Sport and Physical Activity The American Alliance for Health, Physical

Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAPHERD) The American College of Sports Medicine

(ACSM) The Biomedical Engineering Society

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Research focused: Academic and industrial settings

Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Speech-Language Pathologist Athletic Training Orthotists and Prosthetists

*May need to obtain graduate/doctorate degrees or their equivalent**Also may need certification and licensure