5.2 motor programs

Question 1

motor programs (Keele1968)

Answer 1

a set of muscle commands that allow movements to be performed without any peripheral feedback
- a series of subroutines organized in the correct sequence to perform a movement
- stored in long term memory
- ex: hitting a tennis ball, catching a ball, doing a somersault

Question 2

motor programs can be put together to form an executive motor program

Answer 2

ex: triple jump, gymnastics routine

Question 3

open loop model

Answer 3

• motor programs is an open loop model
• it accounts for the performance of a skill without recourse to feedback
• it explains how we can carry out very fast movements
• decisions are made in the brain before performing your skill
• little time to react to change movement
  ex: when a boxer throws a jab at 60-70 msecs. this is too fast for him to use feedback to alter the movement once it begins

Question 4

closed loop model

Answer 4

• slower movements can be altered during execution
• feedback is ALWAYS available and is vital to correct movement patterns and adjust to changing needs
• ex: hitting a slow pitched baseball or tennis serve
• jack adams was the first to describe this