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The "Motor" in Implicit Motor Sequence Learning: A Foot-stepping Serial Reaction Time Task

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A note on motor learning without post-response knowledge of results.

C A Wrisberg¹, R A Schmidt

¹a Department of Physical Education , Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Journal of Motor Behavior

|August 17, 2013

Summary

Motor learning can occur without external feedback. This study shows that subjects improved motor responses in a positioning task even without knowledge of results, suggesting an internal error-detection mechanism.

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Area of Science:

Motor Learning
Motor Control
Cognitive Psychology

Background:

Traditional motor learning theories posit that extrinsic feedback is essential for skill acquisition.
Previous research often relied on external error information to explain motor response improvements.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether motor responses can be acquired without extrinsic post-response error information.
To examine the development of internal error-detection mechanisms during motor learning.

Main Methods:

A linear positioning task was employed with blindfolded subjects.
Subjects practiced repositioning a lever to a target location over 12 trials without knowledge of results.

Main Results:

Significant decreases in absolute and constant errors were observed with practice.
Performance improvements occurred despite the complete absence of extrinsic error information.

Conclusions:

Motor response acquisition is possible without extrinsic feedback, challenging established theories.
The results support the development of an internal error-detection mechanism for motor learning.
Findings align with theoretical frameworks proposed by Adams (1971) and Schmidt (1975).