title: Measurement of functional task difficulty during motor learning: What level of difficulty corresponds to the optimal challenge point?
abstract: The relationship between task difficulty and learning benefit was examined, as was the measurability of task difficulty. Participants were required to learn a postural control task on an unstable surface at one of four different task difficulty levels. Results from the retention test showed an inverted-U relationship between task difficulty during acquisition and motor learning. The second-highest level of task difficulty was the most effective for motor learning, while learning was delayed at the most and least difficult levels. Additionally, the results indicate that salivary α-amylase and the performance dimension of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) are useful indices of task difficulty. Our findings suggested that instructors may be able to adjust task difficulty based on salivary α-amylase and the performance dimension of the NASA-TLX to enhance learning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Mejiro University, 320 Ukiya, Iwatsuki-ku, Saitama-city, Saitama 339-8501, Japan. Electronic address: akiduki@mejiro.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akizuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, 4669-2 Ami, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki 300-0394, Japan. Electronic address: Ohashi@ipu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology*; D014163:Transfer, Psychology; D014481:United States; D018557:United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration; D016526:Workload; D055815:Young Adult; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000516:alpha-Amylases
keywords: Challenge point framework; Motor learning; NASA-TLX; Optimal challenge point; Salivary α-amylase; Task difficulty