Asymmetric transfer in a pursuit tracking task related to a change of strategy.

Abstract

Sixty male subjects were divided into three equal groups, one control and the other two experimental. The experimental groups were given two tracking tasks in different orders. The tasks were given by distributed practice. One tracking task consisted of far and near movements at short regular intervals, while the other was of irregular longer intervals. Transfer was positive from the regular task to the irregular task. The parts of the tracking course on which far and near movements were made were the same for both tasks, but the movement pattern of the right hand was different in each case. The strategy used for the regular task could not be applied to the irregular task. For this reason the asymmetric transfer occurred.