Implicit and Explicit Processes in Motor Learning and Performance

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Knowledge can be acquired through either an explicit or implicit learning process. Knowledge produced by an explicit learning process is explicit and can be verbalized; on the other hand, knowledge accumulated by way of an implicit learning process is implicit and difficult to be articulated. The distinctive characteristics of these two processes have attracted attention in psychology domain. In motor behavior domain, several researchers, though not many, have examined implicit process in motor learning and performance. This paper, through literature review, examines the roles of implicit and explicit processes in motor learning and discussed several methods proposed to teach motor skills through implicit process. Factors related to the implicit and explicit nature of learning process, e.g., explicit instructions given to learners in practice and level of self-focused attention induced by psychological stress in performance, are also discussed.