Focus of attention during motor skill performance.
The effect of strategy instruction on response time in a sequential keypressing task was compared during acquisition and retention. Specifically, this study determined the influence of: (1) an awareness strategy, (2) a non-awareness strategy, (3) a Five-Step Approach strategy and (4) a control condition. Sixty-four subjects completed 250 trials of nine sequential keypresses, and 50 trials of a dual task (keypresses and verbal report). Faster response times were found for the Five-Step Approach and non-awareness strategies during both acquisition and retention. Introducing beginners to strategies that are used by highly skilled performers facilitated response times.
Singer
R N
RN
Motor Behavior Laboratory, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-2034.
Lidor
R
R
Cauraugh
J H
JH
D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology; D003463:Cues; D005246:Feedback / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods