Motor Learning

Question 1

How many stages are generally in motor learning

Answer 1

3

Question 2

What are the four mechanisms of motor learning?

Answer 2

• instructive
• reinforcement
• use-dependent
• sensorimotor adaptation

Question 3

What is motor learning?

Answer 3

a set of processes associated with practice or experience leading to a relatively permanent change in the capability for skilled behaviour

Question 4

What is the current view on motor learning and neurorehabilitation?

Answer 4

promoting motor learning is a fundamental objective of many neurorehabilitation interventions

Question 5

What does the neurophysiology-based approach to motor learning and neurorhab include?

Answer 5

• influence tone
• reduce spasticity
• normalize movement patterns

Question 6

What does the pragmatic and eclectic approach to motor learning and neurorehabilitation include?

Answer 6

• biomechanics
• exercise science
• motor learning
• neuroplasticity

Question 7

Are all 4 mechanisms of motor learning happening in isolation?

Answer 7

sometimes, but often combined with another mechanism

Question 8

How does instructive motor learning change motor behaviour

Answer 8

through intentional movement strategy (descriptive instructions about how to improve the movement)

Question 9

What is the driver of instructive motor learning?

Answer 9

Knowledge of performance- learner is provided specific external feedback about performance relative to a task goal (e.g., you dropped your foot too much)

Question 10

What part of the brain is being used during instructive motor learning?

Answer 10

prefrontal cortex

Question 11

What is the cognitive load of instructive motor learning?

Answer 11

involves multiple cognitive processes

Question 12

What is the timeline of instructive motor learning?

Answer 12

faster compared to use-dependent (advantage)

Question 13

What is a disadvantage of instructive motor learning?

Answer 13

not suitable for patients with cognitive deficits and/or neuropsychological impairments

Question 14

What are the three stages of instructive motor learning?

Answer 14

acquisition-> consolidation-> retention

Question 15

What is reinforcement motor learning?

Answer 15

change in motor behaviour driven by external binary outcome-based feedback about success/failure (yes or no feedback)

Question 16

What is the mechanism of learning in reinforcement motor learning?

Answer 16

learner explores different movements, selects actions likely to succeed, ignore actions likely to fail relative to task goal

Question 17

What are the drivers of reinforcement motor learning?

Answer 17

• external feedback about success/failure
• knowledge of results

Question 18

What brain regions are involved in reinforcement motor learning?

Answer 18

• basal ganglia (dopamine releasing neurons)
• motor cortex

Question 19

What is the cognitive load of reinforcement motor learning?

Answer 19

unclear, but probably less than instructive, but intentional exploration is required

Question 20

What is the timeline of reinforcement motor learning?

Answer 20

changes within practice session, but longer than sensorimotor-adaptation learning

Question 21

What is an advantage of reinforcement motor learning?

Answer 21

longer retention of acquired movements

Question 22

What is a disadvantage of reinforcement motor learning?

Answer 22

not suitable for people with basal ganglia disease (parkinsons)

Question 23

What is use-dependent motor learning?

Answer 23

task-specific massed practice

Question 24

What is the mechanism of use-dependent motor learning?

Answer 24

repeated practice of new movement causes future repetitions to be more similar to the goal/desired outcome

Question 25

What is the driver of use-dependent motor learning?

Answer 25

- the amount of practice completed by the learner - parameters that can be manipulated to optimize learning

Question 26

What brain areas are involved in use-dependent motor learning?

Answer 26

functional changes throughout the CNS - motor cortex and spinal cord (experience-dependent neuroplasticity)

Question 27

What is the cognitive load of use-dependent motor learning?

Answer 27

learner must actively practice the task (effort) with a degree of cognitive engagement (have a drive towards changing movement to match task goal)

Question 28

What is the time frame of us-dependent motor learning?

Answer 28

long time scale when used alone since it depends on mass practice

Question 29

What is the disadvantage to use-dependent motor learning?

Answer 29

generalization to real-world improvement is quite small (many different scenarios in real-world that need to be practiced)

Question 30

What is sensorimotor adaptation motor learning?

Answer 30

utilizes sensory prediction errors to a change in the environment

Question 31

What is the mechanism of sensorimotor adaptation motor learning?

Answer 31

Errors detected, motor command automatically updated to adapt movement and reduce magnitude of error

Question 32

What is the driver of sensorimotor adaptation motor learning?

Answer 32

Sensory prediction errors- learning encounters unexpected change in task demands or changes in environment

Question 33

What areas of the brain are involved in sensorimotor adaptation motor learning?

Answer 33

cerebellum

Question 34

What is the cognitive load of sensorimotor adaptation motor learning?

Answer 34

Low load-> occurs automatically and implicitly

Question 35

What is the time frame of sensorimotor adaptation motor learning?

Answer 35

rapid- within minutes

Question 36

What is the advantage of sensorimotor adaptation motor learning?

Answer 36

timescale and relatively permanent changes

Question 37

What is the disadvantage for sensorimotor adaptation motor learning?

Answer 37

not suitable for people with cerebellar disease/injury

Question 38

Explain the three stages of the Fitts and Posner model...

Answer 38

Cognitive- inefficient task, highly cognitive, large improvements Associative- refining the skill, increased coordination, slower improvement Autonomous- automatic performance, focus on other aspects

Question 39

What motor learning mechanism is best at the cognitive stage of learning a new skill?

Answer 39

instructive

Question 40

What motor learning mechanism is best at the associative stage of learning a new skill?

Answer 40

reinforcement and use-dependent practice

Question 41

What motor learning mechanism is best used at the autonomous stage of learning a new skill?

Answer 41

sensorimotor adaptation and use-dependent practice

Question 42

What are the two best ways to organize use-dependent and instructive motor learning?

Answer 42

- random practice is superior to blocked - adaptive training is superior to part task training

Question 43

Why is random practice hypothesized to be superior to blocked practice?

Answer 43

- effortful, meaningful processing that promotes compare and contrast analyses - promotes short-term forcetting of action plan and forces reconstruction of it

Question 44

What is hypothesized to be better out of adaptive training and part task training?

Answer 44

Adaptive training as part task training has limited carry-over for the whole task

Question 45

Is internal or external focus proved to be superior? and why?

Answer 45

external focus-> internal focus may lead to conscious attempts to control movement that interferes with automatic motor control

Question 46

What are two other things to consider in the instructions element?

Answer 46

mode (verbal instructions, manual guidance, visual demonstration) and content (number of steps)

Question 47

What is intrinsic vs. extrinsic feedback?

Answer 47

intrinsic is naturally available from one's own senses Extrinsic is feedback that supplements the naturally available information (should not be redundant with intrinsic)

Question 48

What are the two types of extrinsic feedback?

Answer 48

- Knowledge of results: info about outcome - Knowledge of performance: info about how the skill was performed

Question 49

What should be our main focus when providing extrinsic feedback to a patient?

Answer 49

to be intentional in order to facilitate motor learning (do not just say good job)

Question 50

What frequency of feedback is recommended and why?

Answer 50

less frequent feedback is superior: too much feedback creates dependency, learner does not learn to use intrinsic feedback to guide their own movement

Question 51

What is average feedback?

Answer 51

giving knowledge of results of the average performance resulting after several trials

Question 52

What is faded feedback?

Answer 52

high rate of feedback to begin with and then reduce to zero

Question 53

What is bandwidth feedback?

Answer 53

give feedback when the performance is outside a predetermined acceptable limit or 'band' (e.g., only give them feedback when no part of foot is on visual marker)

Question 54

What implications do these research findings in neurotypical people have in those who are post-stroke or who have pathology?

Answer 54

They are not always transferrable, people with stroke have both sensory and motor impairments so certain types of feedback are not as reliable