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A Nonlinear Perspective to Motor
Learning in Multi-articular Interceptive Actions |
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| While there has been increased interest in motor learning of multi-articular actions in recent years (see Chen et al., 2005; Liu et al., 2006), more work is needed to investigate the changes in coordination for discrete complex movements that occur with practice. Observing coordination changes and fluctuations in progressions through stages of learning can assist researchers and practitioners to better understand how motor learning can exhibit nonlinear characteristics. In this presentation, a synopsis of a programme of work undertaken will be provided to share a nonlinear perspective on coordination changes during acquisition of a lower limb interceptive action. A comparison of different skilled learners provided ‘signature-like’ evidence of key differences in both coordination and performance outcome measures (Chow et al., 2007). Among more skilled learners, different solution spaces were exploited to meet the same task goal. Such observations highlighted the concept of degeneracy in the control and coordination of human movement. Further examination of coordination changes over an extended period of practice also provided evidence of degeneracy among novice learners. Interestingly, while some evidence of increased fluctuations in movement patterns existed during learning, it was not a pre-requisite for a transition between preferred movement patterns across participants (Chow et al., in press). |
Results suggested that informational and
intentional constraints can guide the learner’s search for effective
movement solutions particularly whilst practicing discrete,
trial-based multi-articular actions. Future research needs to focus
on mapping or scanning the intrinsic dynamics of each individual
learner and examining changes to those dynamics after an
intervention learning phase. We will discuss how empirical findings
provide theoretical support for a new approach to motor learning,
Nonlinear Pedagogy, based on key concepts in nonlinear dynamics and
ecological psychology. Key References Chen, H. H., Liu, Y. T., Mayer-Kress, G., & Newell, K. M., (2005). Learning the pedalo locomotion task. Journal of Motor Behavior, 37, 247-256. Chow, J. Y., Davids, K., Button, C., & Koh, M. (2007). Variation in coordination of a multi-articualr action as a function of skill level. Journal of Motor Behavior, 39, 463-479. Chow, J. Y., Davids, K., Button, C., & Rein, R. (in press). Dynamics of movement patterning in learning a discrete multi-articular action. Motor Control. Liu, Y. T., Mayer-Kress, G., & Newell, K. M. (2006). Qualitative and quantitative change in the dynamics of motor learning. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 32, 380-393. |
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