Motor Control & Learning Level of control in all learning Learning produces changes in control

Learner Environment Task

Motor Skill Defined Requires body &/or limb movement Voluntary Goal directed Learned

Characteristics of Human Action Flexibility –Ability to recruit different muscles and joints to achieve same action Uniqueness –No two movements are ever performed in exactly the same way

Characteristics of Human Action Consistency of Action –Temporal and spatial aspects of a movement remain relatively stable from one performance to the next Modifiability of Action –Ability to alter a movement pattern, even as it is being executed

Classification of Motor Skills

One-Dimensional Classifications SIZE OF MUSCULATURE INVOLVED Gross motor Fine motor

One-Dimensional Classifications DISTINCTIVENESS OF MOVEMENT Discrete Continuous

One-Dimensional Classifications STABILITY OF ENVIRONMENT ClosedOpen

Environmental Dimension Demands placed on performer by the environment (Performance Space) Move Where?Spatial Move When?Temporal Move Where & When?Spatial & Temporal Constraints

Closed Skill Characteristics Self-paced Fixed Environment Spatial Control Highly Predictable

Open Skill Characteristics Externally-paced Changing Environment Spatial & Temporal control Skill Level of Performer

Two-Dimensional Classification StationaryMotion No variabilityVariability CONTEXTCONTEXT Regulatory conditions

Stationary No variability StationaryVariability In Motion No Variability In Motion Variability Batting Tee Same height Batting Tee Various heights Pitch Machine Same speed/place Live Pitch

Two-Dimensional Classification Body StabilityObject Body TransportNo Object FUNCTION

Two-Dimensional Classification Stationary Motion No variability Variability CONTEXTCONTEXT Body Stability Object Body Transport No Object FUNCTION

Why is two-dimensional classification system useful? Applying the system