Motor Learning - Introduction

Question 1

What physical therapy settings is motor learning apprpriate for?

Answer 1

All! (sports; orthopedics; pediatrics; acute care; inpatient)

Question 2

Why does motor learning matter?

Answer 2

Critical for our role as a clinician in order to promote effective interventions and reduce the risk of future injuries (retrain biomechanics/motor patterns; strengthen muscles)

Question 3

Define motor learning

Answer 3

A set of processes that are associated w/ practice or experience leading to relatively permanent changes (increased capability of producing skilled action)

Question 4

True/False: Performance and learning are synonymous

Answer 4

False (performance may not be retained; temporary changes/improvements)

Question 5

Performance or Learning - After a day spent practicing, technique improves

Answer 5

Performance

Question 6

Performance or Learning - A year after attending ACL prevention movement retraining course, athlete re-tested on cutting/pivoting…

Answer 6

Learning

Question 7

How does one form memories?

Answer 7

Take in and select important information and make it meaningful (relevance; association)

Question 8

What does the development of memories rely on?

Answer 8

Ability to organize and categorize information (meaningful; relevant; associations)

Question 9

Immediate memory lasts approximately how long?

Answer 9

Fractions of a second to seconds

Question 10

Working memory lasts approximately how long?

Answer 10

Seconds to minutes

Question 11

Long-term memory lasts approximately how long?

Answer 11

Days to years

Question 12

What are the three concepts involved in motor learning?

Answer 12

Learning is a process
Learning takes into account experience and practice
Learning produces permanent changes in behavior

Question 13

The basic forms of long-term memory include what?

Answer 13

Nondeclarative memory (implicit)
Declarative memory (explicit)

Question 14

What three types of learning are associated with nondeclarative (implicit) learning?

Answer 14

Non-associative learning
Associative learning
Procedural learning

Question 15

What is non-associative learning?

Answer 15

One of the simplest forms of learning (involves reflex pathways)

Question 16

True/False: Non-associative learning does not require awareness, attention, or higher cognitive processes

Answer 16

True (reflex pathways)

Question 17

What form of implicit learning occurs when a single stimulus is given repeatedly over time

Answer 17

Non-associative learning (nervous system learns the characteristics of the stimulus)

Question 18

What are two examples of non-associative learning

Answer 18

Habituation
Sensitization

Question 19

Define habituation

Answer 19

A decrease in responsiveness due to repeated exposure to a non-painful stimulus

Question 20

Define sensitization

Answer 20

An increase in responsiveness following a threatening or noxious stimulus

Question 21

What are some examples of habituation?

Answer 21

Treating individuals w/ vestibular dysfunction
Children who are “tactile defensive”

Question 22

What is an example of sensitization?

Answer 22

Balance training (older adults)

Question 23

What is associative learning?

Answer 23

When individuals learn to predict relationships (process of making sense of the world)

Question 24

True/False: Associative learning requires awareness, attention, or higher cognitive processes

Answer 24

False (pairing of stimuli; consequences vs. rewards)

Question 25

What form of implicit learning occurs when individuals rediscover positive and negative associations between body and the world and repeat rewarded behaviors (stop aversive ones)?

Answer 25

Associative learning

Question 26

What are two examples of associative learning

Answer 26

Classical conditioning Operant conditioning

Question 27

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 27

The relationship of one's behavior to a consequence ("trial and error")

Question 28

What are the two principles involved in operant conditioning?

Answer 28

Behaviors that are rewarded tend to be repeated Behaviors that are not rewarded are not usually repeated

Question 29

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 29

The relationship of one stimulus to another (pairing weak w/ stronger one) to produce a conditioned response

Question 30

What is procedural learning?

Answer 30

Emphasizes skills and habits (performed automatically; w/out conscious thought; reflexive)

Question 31

True/False: Procedural learning does not require awareness, attention, or higher cognitive processes

Answer 31

True (behaviors are reflexive, automatic, and habitual)

Question 32

What form of implicit learning involves the development of a movement schema to allow for transfer to unfamiliar circumstances?

Answer 32

Procedural learning

Question 33

True/False: During skill acquisition, repeated movement under varied circumstances does not lead to learning

Answer 33

False (ability to transfer to unfamiliar circumstances)

Question 34

What is declarative (explicit) learning?

Answer 34

Involves the memory of facts, places, and events (must be consciously recalled)

Question 35

Deficits in which areas make declarative learning harder?

Answer 35

Cognitive or language

Question 36

What are the four types of processing involved in declarative learning?

Answer 36

Encoding Consolidation Storage Retrieval

Question 37

What is meant by encoding?

Answer 37

Requires full attention, motivation, and ability to associate the information into meaningful information (based on knowledge you already know)

Question 38

What is meant by consolidation?

Answer 38

Process of making the information "stable" for long-term storage (involves structural changes in neurons)

Question 39

What is meant by storage?

Answer 39

Involves the long-term retention of memories

Question 40

What is meant by retrieval?

Answer 40

Involves the recall of information from different long-term storage sites (most accurate when retrieved in same context of creation)

Question 41

What are some examples of long-term storage sites in the brain?

Answer 41

Hippocampus Sensory association cortices Medial temporal lobe