Motor Program

Question 1

What does a motor program function?

Answer 1

It is the controller of firing which neutrons to execute the desired motor skill.

Question 2

Why are sports skills so difficult to master? (Has something to do with motor programs)

Answer 2

It is because our memory isn’t perfect. Motor program = memory

Question 3

How does a motor program function?

Answer 3

• issues commands to muscles via neutrons (which muscles, how much force)
• organizes muscles and joints into a single unit

Question 4

According to Klapp & Erwin’s study, why did the reaction time of participants plateau after a certain amount of instructions were to be memorized then executed?

Answer 4

A more complex movement requires a longer amount of time to plan. Therefore increasing reaction time.

Question 5

Why do we have motor programs? (2)

Answer 5

• eliminates degrees of freedom problem

- ease of execution of simple discrete tasks

Question 6

What is a degree of freedom (DOF)?

Answer 6

The combination and sequences of muscles and joint movement.

Question 7

What is the sole purpose of having a motor program?

Answer 7

Motor programs help us remember how to do movements every time when needed. Therefore we don’t need to relearn a basic skill over and over again.

Question 8

What are the problems of motor programs? (2)

Answer 8

Storage and novelty

Question 9

What is a motor program?

Answer 9

An abstract representation, that, when initiated results in the production of a coordinated movement sequence! In other words, a procedural memory for movements.

Question 10

What is a generalized motor program? (GMP)

Answer 10

A Generalized Motor Program (GMP) Represents a pattern of movement (class of actions) that can be modified to yield various response outcomes
(Analogy: Frank the truck driver being able to drive in various conditions (generalized), now has the knowledge of different driving experiences. Therefore, if frank were asked to perform some sort of driving task, his GMP would depict the pattern by putting into use which piece(s) of the skill he has already retained from previous exposure to that similar task.)

Question 11

What are the 3 invariant parameters?

Answer 11

1. Order of events
2. Phasing
3. Relative force/timing

Question 12

What is “order of events”?

Answer 12

1/3 of the invariant parameters. It is the action sequence of which a skill is executed. For instance, your name: when writing “Matthew”, you would always write the ‘a’ after the ‘M’; never the other way around.

Question 13

What is phasing?

Answer 13

It is a temporal structure. Basically means the phase of which muscle fires when.

Question 14

What is relative timing?

Answer 14

The internal rhythm of a skill

Question 15

What is relative force?

Answer 15

Similar internal RATIO of forces. For example, quads used to kick; what is the force entered by the hamstrings?

Question 16

What are the VARIANT Parameters?

Answer 16

1. Movement/absolute time

2. Movement amplitude/absolute force

Question 17

What is movement/absolute time?

Answer 17

The control of the time to execute the skill

Question 18

What is movement amplitude (absolute force)?

Answer 18

The size of the movement can be changed by altering the intensity of the force acted upon it

Question 19

What are the 3 lines of evidence for the existence of motor programs?

Answer 19

practical applications:

1. add additional elements to a movement ... slow down RT
- Therefore use the KISS principle in sport
 	2. add more limbs to the movement ... slow down RT
- Therefore reduce number of limbs whenever possible
 	3. Slow down a movement ... slow down RT
- Therefore practice movements at normal speed

Question 20

Why is storage an issue for motor programs?

Answer 20

can’t have so many specific motor programs … too much storage required (e.g. Schmidt, 1975)

Question 21

What is the issue with novelty in motor programs?

Answer 21

How do we do on command, skills which we have never done, probably will never do again and which have not specific relevance to our life?motor program theory cannot answer this at all

Question 22

What is Schmidt’s Schema Theory?

Answer 22

Schmidt’s Schema Theory tries to explain how we learn and perform ‘discrete perceptual motor skills’. That involve using our senses to understand what is happening (the ‘perceptual’ bit) and then using our bodies to take action (the ‘motor’ bit).

Question 23

What are the two types of Schemas?

Answer 23

Recall and Recognition

Question 24

What is the Recall Schema?

Answer 24

The Recall Schema provides adjustments to the GMP after understanding the situation you are in (Desired Parameter) and your intentions (Desired Outcome). For example, if your opponent has remained at the back of the court and is positioned more to your forehand side, then a Recall Schema will feed adjustments of direction and speed to a GMP for you to move into position and to play a drop shot to your opponents’ open side of the court.

Question 25

What is the Recognition Schema?

Answer 25

The Recognition Schema is what allows you to know when you’ve made an error. These are the results of the actions; the response outcomes gained though our extrinsic feedback; mainly knowledge of results. The other recognition schema are the sensory consequences, which are how the skill felt, based on our kinesthesis.

Question 26

How do you develop a good schema?

Answer 26

First, develop a stable Generalized Motor Program, which is parameterized (i.e. has parameters that control it); and then develop a Recall Schema that is accurately calibrated (i.e. gives correct results) over the full range of conditions in which the skill is to be used.