Research article summary (published 30 May 2007):

The transfer of movement sequences: effects of decreased and increased load.

Full Abstract

A number of recent experiments have demonstrated that a movement structure develops during the course of learning a movement sequence that provides the basis for transfer. After learning a movement sequence participants have been shown to be able to effectively produce the sequence when movement demands require that the sequence be rescaled in amplitude or produced with an unpractised set of effectors. The purpose of the present experiment was to determine whether participants, after learning a complex 16-element movement sequence with a 0.567-kg load, could also effectively produce the sequence when the load was decreased (0.0 kg) or increased (1.134 kg). The results indicated that participants were able to effectively compensate for decreased and increased load with virtually no changes in performance characteristics (displacement, velocity, acceleration, and pattern of element durations) while electromyographic (EMG) signals demonstrated that smaller (reduced load) or larger forces (increased load) were spontaneously generated to compensate for the change in load. The muscle activation patterns of the biceps and triceps as well as the level of coactivation appeared to be generally upscaled to generate and dissipate the changes in force requirement needed to compensate for the increased load.

Author information

Author/s: Muehlbauer, Thomas (T); Panzer, Stefan (S); Shea, Charles H (CH);

Affiliation: University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Quarterly journal of experimental psychology (2006) (Q J Exp Psychol (Colchester)), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Jun; vol 60 (issue 6) : pp 770-8

Dates: Created 2007/05/21; Completed 2007/09/07;

PMID: 17514593, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Biomechanics Electromyography - methods Humans Motor Skills - physiology Movement - physiology Muscle Contraction - physiology Practice (Psychology)

Retention (Psychology) - physiology Serial Learning - physiology Students - psychology Task Performance and Analysis Time Factors Transfer (Psychology) - physiology Weight-Bearing - physiology

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