Constant-blocked practice: variation of parameters improves motor skill acquisition

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the combination of constant and variable practice when both, motor program and parameters on absolute and relative dimensions of a task, are manipulated. METHOD: Twenty undergraduate students, aged between 19 and 24 years, participated in this study. Two groups practiced the task of pressing four keys of a numeric keyboard with total and relative times specified under constant conditions in the first part of the acquisition phase and under block conditions in the second part when one group varied parameters and another varied motor programs. RESULTS: Both groups improved parameters and motor program measures during the acquisition phase. In the retention test, the parameters variation resulted in higher accuracy on motor program measure that the variation of motor programs. CONCLUSION: Both combinations improve parameters and motor program accuracy. Moreover, the maintenance of GMP during the variation phase contributes to strengthening it.(AU)

Um movimento, dois olhares: a mudança de paradigma na análise do controle motor e seu efeito na abordagem da marcha humana / One movement, two perspectives: a paradigm change in the motor control

A análise de dados na ciência depende da bagagem cultural e experiência do pesquisador. Estudos sobre a marcha tem como base uma das principais teorias de controle motor: programa motor generalizado e teoria dos sistemas dinâmicos. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar estas teorias e verificar como os estudos a partir destas correntes teóricas abordam o movimento humano denominado marcha. Foram selecionados artigos completos a partir dos unitermos: motor program, generalized motor program, dynamic system theory, gait. O programa motor generalizado analisa a semelhança dos dados para encontrar um padrão no movimento. Os sistemas dinâmicos visam analisar coordenação e variabilidade para verificar estabilidade ou emergência no movimento. Com isso os estudos a partir das duas teorias enfocam fatores diferentes para a análise e interpretação dos dados. Para a marcha a teoria do programa motor generalizado analisa a semelhança de dados de eletromiografia e cinemetria com o intuito de encontrar o padrão de movimento constante e segundo este padrão o programa motor abstrato para este movimento. A teoria dos sistemas dinâmicos visa analisar a coordenação inter e intra-membros e a variabilidade durante a tarefa para verificar a estabilidade do movimento ou a emergência de outro padrão. Pode ser caracterizado que estas duas teorias apesar de tratarem do mesmo tema, o fazem com objetivos diferentes, levando a constatação de uma divergência na abordagem e análise dos dados dependendo da teoria de base do pesquisador.

Data analysis, in any science field, depends on the investigator’s cultural luggage and experience. Among the studies regarding the motor control, two theories are currently in vogue: the generalized motor program and the dynamic systems theory. The aim of this study was to create a general view of both theories and verify how each theory explains the human movement named “gait”. To achieve this aim, full articles were selected through the following key words: motor program, generalized motor program, dynamic system theory, gait. The generalized motor program analyses data similarity in order to find a movement pattern. Dynamic systems theory verifies coordination and variability with the intention of explaining stability or emergence of a movement. Thereby, studies related to these two different theories focus on different factors when carrying out the data analysis and interpretation. Regarding the human gait, the generalized motor program theory analyses the similarities between the electromyographic and kinematic data in order to find a constant movement pattern and the abstract motor program of this movement. The dynamic systems theory aims to analyze intra-limb and inter-limb coordination and the variability during the task execution in order to verify the movement stability or the emergence of another pattern. By this means, despite the fact that both theories approach the same theme, different objectives can be characterized depending on the theory that is being used. This fact leads to a data approach divergence that is dependent upon the investigator’s theoretical background.