Emily H. Wughalter, Ed.D.

Department of Kinesiology

Undergraduate Motor Learning

From: Welford, A.T. (1976) Skilled Performance: Perceptual and Motor Skills. Scott, Foresman and Company: Palo Alto, CA.

The effector process is responsible for arranging the motor program commands to be sent through the neuromuscular system for movement to take place.

The effector process is part of the central processes.

Effector process organizes information sequentially and hierarchically.

The motor program is a set of commands that guides the movement pattern and determines the outcome of movement.

The idea of a motor program portends a hierarchical structure governing motor behavior.

Open Loop Control – means the motor program is run off uninterrupted by feedback.

Closed Loop Control – means the feedback is used to guide the correctness of the movement.

Hybrid System – means the system operates using closed loop or open loop control determined by the type of task performed

Continuous feedback systems use constant monitoring of the system

Discontinuous feedback systems use intermittent monitoring of the system.

Negative feedback causes a change in the direction opposite of the error.

Positive feedback causes a change in the same direction as the error.

Overhead Clear

Grip StanceBack Swing

Forward Swing

Pt of Contact

Follow through

Executor Programs

Subroutines

Executor Program is the larger package.The subroutines are the smaller parts that make up the executor.

Batting

Grip Stance SwingFollow through

Torso Hips Shoulders Arms

Flexion Extension Rotation

Finger Tapping Task Index of Difficulty

Amplitude Width

Movement speed declines as task difficulty increases

ID increases with increases in amplitude and decreases in width.

Performers keep speed and accuracy in balance. As speed increases accuracy declines; as accuracy increases speed declines.