title: Contextual interference and augmented feedback: is there an additive effect for motor learning?
abstract: Learning to perform a skilled behavior is affected by the context of the practice session and the frequency of augmented feedback. We studied the combined effect of these variables in the acquisition of a ballistic, bi-directional lever movement pattern involving four different target locations as measured by performance in practice, retention, and transfer tests. Augmented feedback was presented in either an every-trial or a faded schedule during random and blocked practice. Consistent with the contextual interference effect, the blocked practice group produced lower errors in acquisition, but the random practice group outperformed the blocked practice group in both retention and transfer. In contrast, faded feedback did not have a beneficial effect on learning and degraded learning when provided during blocked practice. While the results were consistent with previous findings of random and blocked practice, they were not consistent with previous findings of reduced feedback frequencies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840, United States. wwu2@csulb.edu
authors.forename: Will F W
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Doug E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Schandler
authors.forename: Gily
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meir
authors.forename: Rachel L M
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Judy
authors.forename: Jonae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology; D056228:Feedback, Sensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D014163:Transfer, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult