title: Prior knowledge of final testing improves sensorimotor learning through self-scheduled practice.
abstract: The elaboration of learning strategies has been considered a key factor to explain sensorimotor learning gains obtained in self-scheduled practice conditions. Nevertheless, the effect of prior knowledge of the testing context (i.e., the learning goal) on that process has been neglected. This study sought to determine whether: (a) learners in a self-controlled condition make different choices contingent on having or not having a learning goal; (b) providing a learning goal would modify the effects of a self-controlled practice condition, and (c) the effect of providing a learning goal would be due to the augmented cognitive effort or to the practice schedule resulting from the learning strategies. The results show that prior knowledge of a variable testing context affects the elaboration of learning strategies and improves skill acquisition in a self-scheduled practice condition. Furthermore, learning gains can be attributed to the self-imposed practice schedule resulting from the learning strategies, and not to the process of elaborating them.
authors.affiliation: Motor Behavior Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, Brazil. bastosfh@usp.br
authors.forename: Flavio Henrique
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: Welber
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Marinovic
authors.forename: Aymar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Rugy
authors.forename: Go
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tani
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D059031:Anticipation, Psychological; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003118:Color Perception; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D009039:Motion Perception; D009042:Motivation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D014163:Transfer, Psychology; D055815:Young Adult