Practice Schedules, Time Scales and Motor Learning
Open Access
Author:
King, Adam C
Graduate Program:
Kinesiology
Degree:
Master of Science
Document Type:
Master Thesis
Date of Defense:
None
Committee Members:
Karl Maxim Newell, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor Karl Maxim Newell, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Keywords:
practice schedules learning rate consolidation time scales
Abstract:
There are multiple processes that are active both during and between practice sessions for the acquisition of a new motor skill. Distinctively separate processes of adaptation and learning can be decomposed from performance dynamics through a two time scale model. This allows for analysis of the independent effects of practice schedule distribution on these two constructs. Memory consolidation has shown improvement over time between practice sessions in certain motor tasks. This study investigated the effect of practice trial and practice session interval distribution on adaptive warm-up effects at the beginning of a practice session and persistent learning effects over practice sessions. The findings did not support ‘off-line’ enhancement from extended time between sessions; however, practice schedule manipulations modulated the adaptation process of skill acquisition.