Approaches To The Study Of Motor Control And Learning

During the past two decades, there has been a dramatic increase in interest in the study of motor control and learning. In this volume authors from a variety of backgrounds and theoretical perspectives review their research with particular emphasis on the methods and paradigms employed, and the future direction of their work. The book is divided into four main sections. The first section contains chapters examining general issues and trends in the movement behaviour field. The remaining three sections contain chapters from scientists working in three broadly defined areas of interest: coordination and control; visuo-motor processes; and movement disorders. Each section provides an overview of the different approaches and different levels of analysis being used to examine specific topics within the motor domain.

This up-to-date book provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles of motor control and motor learning. The authors integrate knowledge from the fields of cognitive psychology and neuroscience to provide readers with a more complete understanding of the multilevel processes that contribute to the acquisition and control of movement skills. Each section of the book introduces the most important theoretical models in each particular area, followed by theoretical principles and illustrations with practical examples drawn from movement, skill, and clinical settings. The breadth of the practical applications will appeal to readers preparing to enter professions that require a strong knowledge of motor control and learning principles. Movement, skill, cognitive psychology, neuroscience, transfer of motor learning, contemporary motor control theories, measurement techniques, application of theory, real-life aspects of motor control and learning. For all readers interested in issues relating to motor learning and control.

Motor Control and Learning, Sixth Edition, focuses on observable movement behavior, the many factors that influence quality of movement, and how movement skills are acquired.

Motor Behavior and Human Skill details the most recent research in motor control and human skill. The book provides a forum for the analysis of the many diverse theoretical approaches used in the understanding of motor control, including the cognitive, dynamical systems, computational, and neurological approaches.

Motor Learning and Performance: From Principles to Application, Sixth Edition With Web Study Guide, enables students to appreciate high-level skilled activity and understand how such incredible performances occur. Written in a style that is accessible even to students with little or no knowledge of physiology, psychology, statistical methods, or other basic sciences, this text constructs a conceptual model of factors that influence motor performance, outlines how motor skills are acquired and retained with practice, and shows students how to apply the concepts to a variety of real-world settings. The sixth edition of Motor Learning and Performance has been carefully revised to incorporate the most important research findings in the field, and it is supplemented with practice situations to facilitate a stronger link between research-based principles and practical applications. Other highlights include the following: A web study guide offers updated principles-to-application exercises and additional interactive activities for each chapter, ensuring that students will be able to transfer core content from the book to various applied settings. Extensive updates and new material related to the performance of complex movements expand the theoretical focus to a more in-depth analysis of dynamical systems and the constraints-led approach to learning. Narratives from Motor Control in Everyday Actions that appear in the web study guide tie each book chapter to concrete examples of how motor behavior is applicable to real life. Photo caption activities pose questions to students to encourage critical thinking, and answers to those questions are provided to instructors in the instructor guide. As the text investigates the principles of human performance, pedagogical aids such as learning objectives, key terms, and Check Your Understanding questions help students stay on track with learning in each chapter. 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. The sixth edition of Motor Learning and Performance: From Principles to Application goes beyond simply presenting research—it challenges students to grasp the fundamental concepts of motor performance and learning and then go a step further by applying the concepts. Incorporating familiar scenarios brings the material to life for students, leading to better retention and greater interest in practical application of motor performance and learning in their everyday lives and future careers.

This book is the first to view the effects of development, aging, and practice on the control of human voluntary movement from a contemporary context. Emphasis is on the links between progress in basic motor control research and applied areas such as motor disorders and motor rehabilitation. Relevant to both professionals in the areas of motor control, movement disorders, and motor rehabilitation, and to students starting their careers in one of these actively developed areas.

An understanding of the scientific principles underpinning the learning and execution of fundamental and skilled movements is of central importance in disciplines across the sport and exercise sciences. The second edition of Motor Control, Learning and Development: Instant Notes offers students an accessible, clear and concise introduction to the core concepts of motor behavior, from learning through to developing expertise. Including two brand new chapters on implicit versus explicit learning and motor control and aging, this new edition is fully revised and updated, and covers: definitions, theories and measurements of motor control; information processing, neurological issues and sensory factors in control; theories and stages of motor learning; memory and feedback; the development of fundamental movement skills; and the application of theory to coaching and rehabilitation practice. Highly illustrated and well-formatted, the book allows readers to grasp complex ideas quickly, through learning objectives, research highlights, review questions and activities, and encourages students to deepen their understanding through further reading suggestions. This is important foundational reading for any student taking classes in motor control, learning or behavior or skill acquisition, or a clear and concise reference for any practicing sports coach, physical education teacher or rehabilitation specialist.

Information Processing in Motor Control and Learning provides the theoretical ideas and experimental findings in the field of motor behavior research. The text presents a balanced combination of theory and empirical data. Chapters discuss several theoretical issues surrounding skill acquisition; motor programming; and the nature and significance of preparation, rapid movement sequences, attentional demands, and sensorimotor integration in voluntary movements. The book will be interesting to psychologists, neurophysiologists, and graduate students in related fields.