Implicit and explicit learning: applications from basic research to sports for individuals with impaired movement...

Area of Science:

• Motor learning and control
• Neurorehabilitation
• Sports science

Background:

• Motor skills acquisition can occur through explicit or implicit learning pathways.
• Explicit learning heavily relies on working memory, whereas implicit learning bypasses this cognitive load.
• Individuals with cerebral palsy, premature birth, and older adults often exhibit compromised working memory and altered movement dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose that implicit learning methods can benefit individuals with impaired movement dynamics when acquiring sports-related motor skills.
• To explore the potential of implicit motor learning for populations with compromised working memory capacity.

Main Methods:

• Review of converging evidence on working memory capacity in specific populations.
• Examination of tentative evidence regarding implicit motor skill learning in older adults.
• Discussion of the implications of impaired movement dynamics on motor skill acquisition.

Main Results:

• Individuals with cerebral palsy and children born prematurely often have compromised working memory, impacting skill learning.
• Older adults with deteriorating movement dynamics show durable performance gains through implicit learning of sports skills.
• Implicit motor learning is effective for individuals with altered movement dynamics and compromised working memory.

Conclusions:

• Implicit motor learning offers a promising avenue for individuals facing challenges with explicit learning due to impaired movement dynamics.
• Further research is needed to extensively evaluate the benefits of implicit motor learning in populations with impaired movement dynamics.
• Implicit learning strategies may enhance motor skill acquisition and performance in specific clinical and aging populations.