Introduction to Skilled Performance and Motor Learning

Introduction to Skilled Performance and Motor Learning

Overview

This unit introduces the foundational concepts of skilled performance and motor learning, focusing on the psychological and physiological processes underlying human movement. Students will learn to differentiate types of movement, define skilled performance, identify skill components, and classify skills using established systems.

Types of Human Movement

Categories of Movement

• Reflexes: Automatic, involuntary responses to stimuli (e.g., knee-jerk reaction).

• Stereotyped Movements: Repetitive, predictable actions (e.g., walking, chewing).

• Self-expression/Goal-directed Behaviour: Movements performed with intention to achieve a specific outcome (e.g., playing a sport, painting).

Skilled Performance

Definition and Key Features

Skilled performance is the learned ability to achieve predetermined results (a well-defined goal) by:

• Maximizing the certainty of goal achievement

• Minimizing the physical and mental energy costs of performance

• Minimizing the time used

These requirements (accuracy, speed, energy spent) vary depending on the task.

Examples

• Improvement in tennis technique (before/after training)

• Developmental milestones in walking (infants learning to walk)

• Motor skill re-learning after stroke (e.g., gait symmetry)

Features of Skilled Performance

Characteristics

1. Quality of performance is developed through training, experience, and practice, not solely innate ability. This distinguishes skill from ability.

2. Efficiency and economy of performance are crucial; skilled actions are smooth and tireless.

3. Flexibility of operation: Skilled performers can reach the same end result using different strategies depending on circumstances.

Components of Skills

Critical Elements

• Perceptual: Perceiving relevant environmental features and discriminating important sensory stimuli from noise.

• Cognitive: Deciding what to do, where, and when; quality of decision-making is important.

• Motor: Producing organized muscular activity to generate movements that achieve the goal; quality of movement matters.

Classifying Skills

Classification Dimensions

1. Level of Environmental Predictability: Open → Closed

2. Movement Initiation: Self-paced → Forced-paced

3. Task Organization: Discrete → Serial → Continuous

4. Importance of Physical & Cognitive Components: Motor → Cognitive

5. Primary Muscles Required: Gross motor → Fine motor

Level of Environmental Predictability

Closed Skill	Open Skill
Performed in stable, predictable environment; allows planning in advance; uses stereotyped movements	Performed in variable, unpredictable environment; requires adaptation to dynamic properties; absence of stereotyped movements
e.g., Gymnastics, Typing	e.g., Playing soccer, Chasing a rabbit

Movement Initiation

• Self-paced: Performer sets pace for movement initiation (e.g., painting, golf swing).

• Forced-paced: Pace set by external stimulus (e.g., assembly line work, responding to a starter's gun).

Task Organization

Discrete Skills	Serial Skills	Continuous Skills
Distinct beginning and end (e.g., throwing a dart)	Series of discrete actions linked together (e.g., gymnastics routine)	No discrete beginning or end; ongoing (e.g., steering a car, tracking task)

Importance of Physical and Cognitive Components

• Cognitive skill: High decision-making requirement ("knowing what to do").

• Sensorimotor skill: Low decision-making requirement ("doing it correctly").

Motor Skills	Cognitive Skills
High jumping, Pitching, Weight lifting	Playing chess, Coaching a sport
Driving a race car, Sailing an iceboat	Playing quarterback

Primary Muscles Required

• Gross motor skill: Large muscle groups used (e.g., cycling, running).

• Fine motor skill: Small muscle groups used, primarily hands and fingers (e.g., writing, playing piano).

Additional info:

• Motor learning is a key area in biological psychology, focusing on how the brain and body acquire, refine, and retain movement skills.

• Understanding skilled performance is essential for fields such as rehabilitation, sports psychology, and cognitive neuroscience.