Motor Learning and Performance: From Principles to Application

Motor Learning and Performance: From Principles to Application, Fifth Edition With Web Study Guide, describes the principles of motor performance and learning in a style that is accessible even to students with little or no knowledge of physiology, psychology, statistical methods, and other basic sciences. Constructing an easy-to-understand conceptual model of motor performance along the way, this text outlines the principles of motor skill learning, building a strong understanding of how skills are acquired and perfected with practice and showing students how to apply the concepts to a variety of real-world settings. Incorporating familiar scenarios brings the material to life for students, leading to better retention of information and greater interest in practical application of motor performance and learning in their everyday lives and future careers. The fifth edition of Motor Learning and Performance features a more streamlined organization, with practice situations integrated directly into chapters rather than appearing at the end of the text, facilitating a stronger link between principles derived from research and practical applications. The addition of author Timothy Lee adds a fresh perspective to the text. Other key changes include the following: • An improved web study guide offers a principles-to-application exercise and multiple interactive activities for each chapter, ensuring that students will be able to transfer core content from the book to various applied settings. • A full-color interior provides a more engaging presentation. • Focus on Research and Focus on Application sidebars deliver more detailed research information and make connections to real-world applications in areas such as teaching, coaching, and therapy. • Updates to instructor ancillaries feature the addition of lab activities to the instructor guide and new chapter quizzes that assess students’ mastery of the most important concepts covered in the textbook. • Pedagogical aids such as learning objectives, glossary of terms, and Check Your Understanding questions throughout help students stay on track with learning in each chapter. Motor Learning and Performance, Fifth Edition, provides optimal student comprehension, offering a strong conceptual understanding of skills and then building on this with the intricacies of skilled motor performance. Part I investigates the principles of human performance, progressively developing a conceptual model of human actions. The focus is mainly on human performance as based on an information-processing perspective. In part II, the text uses the conceptual model to impart an understanding of human motor learning processes. The presentation style remains simple and straightforward for those without extensive backgrounds in motor performance. The fifth edition of Motor Learning and Performance: From Principles to Application goes beyond simply presenting research, challenging students not only to grasp but also to apply the fundamental concepts of motor performance and learning. The fifth edition is a valuable tool for anyone who appreciates high-level skilled activity or would like to learn more about how such performances occur.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1. Introduction to Motor Learning and Performance: How Skills Are Studied Why Study Motor Skills? The Science of Motor Learning and Performance Focus on Research 1.1: Franklin M. Henry, Father of Motor Behavior Research Defining Skills Components of Skills Classifying Skills Focus on Research 1.2: Error Scores in Discrete Tasks Focus on Research 1.3: Error Scores in Continuous Tasks Understanding Performance and Learning Summary Learning Aids Part I: Principles of Human Skilled Performance Chapter 2. Processing Information and Making Decisions: The Mental Side of Human Performance The Information-Processing Approach Reaction Time and Decision Making Focus on Research 2.1: Donders’ Stages of Processing Focus on Research 2.2: Hick’s Law Focus on Application 2.1: Light Switches Focus on Application 2.2: Strategies for Anticipating Focus on Research 2.3: Assessing Anticipation Skills Memory Systems Summary Learning Aids Chapter 3. Attention and Performance: Limitations on Information Processing Focus on Application 3.1: William James on Attention What Is Attention? Limitations in Stimulus Identification Limitations in Response Selection Focus on Research 3.1: Distracted-Driving Research Limitations in Movement Programming Focus on Research 3.2: The Double-Stimulation Paradigm Decision Making Under Stress Focus on Application 3.2: Automotive Panic Summary Learning Aids Chapter 4. Sensory Contributions to Skilled Performance: Feedback Processing in Motor Control Sources of Sensory Information Processing Sensory Information Focus on Application 4.1: Error Correction in Batting Principles of Visual Control Focus on Research 4.1: “Blindsight” Reveals Dorsal and Ventral Stream Processing Focus on Research 4.2: Gaze Control Focus on Application 4.2: Visibility in Nighttime Car–Truck Accidents Audition and Motor Control Focus on Application 4.3: When Vision Degrades Performance Summary Learning Aids Chapter 5. Motor Programs: Motor Control of Brief Actions Motor Program Theory Evidence for Motor Programs Focus on Research 5.1: The Henry–Rogers Experiment Focus on Application 5.1: Checked Swings in Baseball Focus on Research 5.2: Initiating a Motor Program Motor Programs and the Conceptual Model Problems in Motor-Program Theory: Novelty and Storage Problems Generalized Motor-Program Theory Focus on Research 5.3: Invariances and Parameters Focus on Research 5.4: Relative Timing in Locomotion Focus on Application 5.2: Relative-Timing Fingerprints Focus on Application 5.3: The Stereo-System Analogy Summary Learning Aids Chapter 6. Principles of Speed, Accuracy, and Coordination: Controlling and Timing Movements Speed–Accuracy Trade-Offs Focus on Research 6.1: Fitts Tasks Focus on Application 6.1: Fitts’ Law in Everyday Actions Sources of Error in Rapid Movements Exceptions to the Speed–Accuracy Trade-Off Analyzing a Rapid Movement: Baseball Batting Accuracy in Coordinated Actions Focus on Application 6.2: Coordination in Golf Putting Focus on Research 6.2: Coordination as a Self-Organization Process Summary Learning Aids Chapter 7. Individual Differences: How People Differ in Their Performance Capabilities The Study of Individual Differences Abilities versus Skills Is There a General Motor Ability? Focus on Application 7.1: The Babe (Mildred “Babe” Zaharias) Focus on Research 7.1: Correlation: The Statistic of Individual Differences Abilities and the Production of Skills Prediction and Selection Based on Ability Focus on Application 7.2: Moneyball Focus on Research 7.2: The Relative-Age Effect Summary Learning Aids Part II: Principles of Skill Learning Chapter 8. Introduction to Motor Learning: Concepts and Methods in Research and Application Motor Learning Defined How is Motor Learning Measured? Focus on Research 8.1: Learning Curves: Facts or Artifacts? Distinguishing Learning from Performance Focus on Application 8.1: Self-Assessments of Learning Transfer of Learning Summary Learning Aids Chapter 9. Skill Acquisition, Retention, and Transfer: How Expertise is Gained Skill Acquisition Focus on Application 9.1: Principles of Golf Practice Focus on Research 9.1: Learning Never Ends Focus on Application 9.2: Fitts and Bernstein Learn to Play Ice Hockey Skill Retention Skill Transfer Focus on Application 9.3: Teaching for Transfer of Learning Focus on Research 9.2: Game Systems for Virtual Training Summary Learning Aids Chapter 10. Organizing and Scheduling Practice: How the Structure of Practice Influences Learning Off-Task Practice Considerations Focus on Application 10.1: Mental Practice in Stroke Rehabilitation Organizing Practice and Rest Variable Versus Constant Practice Focus on Research 10.1: Especial Skills: An Exception to Variable Practice? Blocked Versus Random Practice Summary Learning Aids Chapter 11. Augmented Feedback: How Providing Extra Information Influences Learning Feedback Classifications Functions of Augmented Feedback Focus on Research 11.1: Revising Ideas About How Feedback Works How Much Feedback Should Be Given? Focus on Research 11.2: Augmented Feedback From Video Replays When to Give Feedback Focus on Application 11.1: Physical Guidance in Stroke Rehabilitation Focus on Application 11.2: Physical Guidance in Learning to Swim Summary Learning Aids