Win-shift, lose-stay: contingent switching and contextual interference in motor learning

Area of Science:

• Motor Learning
• Skill Acquisition
• Human Movement Science

Background:

• Understanding optimal practice schedules is crucial for effective motor skill acquisition.
• Blocked and random practice are common methods, but their effects on retention vary.
• Performance-contingent schedules offer a novel approach to optimize learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of blocked, random, and two win-shift/lose-stay (WSLS) practice schedules on motor skill acquisition and retention.
• To investigate how performance-contingent task switching influences learning outcomes.
• To determine which practice schedule yields superior performance in both immediate acquisition and delayed retention tests.

Main Methods:

• Forty-eight learners practiced three distinct multisegment movements with specific target movement times.
• Four groups were assigned: blocked practice, random practice, WSLS1 (1-trial contingent switching), and WSLS2 (2-trial contingent switching).
• Performance accuracy was measured during acquisition and on a subsequent day's retention test.

Main Results:

• Blocked practice resulted in higher accuracy during acquisition compared to random and WSLS2 groups.
• On the retention test, the random practice group outperformed the blocked practice group.
• The WSLS1 group demonstrated performance comparable to random practice, while WSLS2 mirrored blocked practice outcomes.

Conclusions:

• While blocked practice aids initial learning, random practice appears more beneficial for long-term motor skill retention.
• Performance-contingent schedules, like WSLS, present a potentially effective learning strategy warranting further investigation.
• The findings suggest that practice schedule design significantly impacts the durability of learned motor skills.