TERMINOLOGY - THE LANGUAGE OF MOTOR LEARNING
Blocked Practice: A type of practice in which individuals practice the same motor skill or task repeatedly. This means that the individual practices the same skill or task multiple times in a row, before moving on to practice another skill or task. Blocked practice is effective for skills acquisition and development.
Cerebellum: A part of the brain which receives sensory input from various parts of the body, as well as motor commands from the primary motor cortex, and uses this information to coordinate movements and improve motor learning, The cerebellum also plays a crucial role in motor learning by storing memories of previously learned movements and facilitating the acquisition of new motor skill.
Consolidation: The process by which newly acquired motor skills are strengthened and stabilized over time, so that they can be retrieved and executed more efficiently and effectively in the future.
Error based learning: A process in which the brain adjusts behavior based on the feedback it receives from the environment. In this process, the brain detects errors in its responses to stimuli and modifies its behavior to reduce these errors in the future.
Interference: The disruption that results from the variability and unpredictability of practice conditions. Interference increases cognitive engagement, a foundational ingredient in skills development.
Long Term Potentiation (LTP): A process that occurs in the brain in response to repeated stimulation of neural pathways. In response to repeated practice, neural pathways become more efficient and effective at communicating with one another, often in response to practice. This is due in part to changes in the strength and number of connections between neurons, as well as changes in the sensitivity of the neurons to the signals they receive.
Motor Control: The coordinated contraction of muscles due to the transmission of impulses sent from the brain to the muscles. Less formally, motor control is the ability to produce useful coordinated responses.
Motor Learning: A relatively permanent change in the ability to perform a physical task.
Primary Motor Cortex: When learning a new motor skill, the primary motor cortex is responsible for generating the motor commands necessary to execute the movement. As the skill is practiced, the neural circuits in the primary motor cortex are gradually refined, allowing for more precise and efficient movements.
Random Practice: A type of practice in which individuals practice different motor skills or tasks in a random order, rather than practicing the same skill or task repeatedly. Random practice is useful for transference to competition, or timed performance. This is a more advanced learning technique.
Sensory-motor Map: The neural representation of the relationship between sensory information and motor actions. The sensory-motor map is a fundamental component of the motor system, and it plays a critical role in the planning and execution of movements and actions.
Spacing effect: A phenomenon in which practice time is spread out and/or interrupted by frequent rest periods, rather than one single block.