Observation of an expert model induces a skilled movement coordination pattern in a single session of intermittent practice

Jason Friedman,Maria Korman

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-40924-9

Jason Friedman, Maria Korman

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-40924-9

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Journal: Scientific Reports	Publication Date: Mar 14, 2019
Citations: 9	License type: open-access

Affiliation: Tel Aviv University, University of Haifa

Abstract

We tested how observation of a skilled pattern of planar movements can assist in the learning of a new motor skill, which otherwise requires rigorous long-term practice to achieve fast and smooth performance. Sixty participants performed a sequence of planar hand movements on pre-test, acquisition, post-test and 24 h post-training blocks, under 1 of 4 conditions: an observation group (OG), a slowed observation group (SOG), a random motion control group (RMCG) and a double physical training control group (DPTCG). The OG and SOG observed an expert model’s right hand performing the study task intermittently throughout acquisition, RMCG observed random dots movement instead of a model. Participants in the DPTCG received extra physical practice trials instead of the visually observed trials. Kinematic analysis revealed that only in conditions with observation of an expert model there was an instant robust improvement in motor planning of the task. This step-wise improvement was not only persistent in post-training retests but was also apparently implicit and subject to further incremental improvements in movement strategy over the period of 24 hours. The rapid change in motor strategy was accompanied by a transient within-session increase in spatial error for the observation groups, but this went away by 24 h post-training. We suggest that observation of hand movements of an expert model coaligned with self-produced movements during training can significantly condense the time-course of ecologically relevant drawing/writing skill mastery.

Highlights

Observation is one of the most powerful ways of transmitting behaviours
Movement trajectories connecting A-B-C and C-D-A targets were more curved and longer in the observation groups (OG and slowed observation group (SOG)) than those generated by participants of the non-observation groups (RMCG and double physical training control group (DPTCG)) (Fig. 1(a))
A novel movement strategy may lead to a longer path but affords smoother and faster performance engaging a smaller number of motor primitives

Summary

Introduction

Observation is one of the most powerful ways of transmitting behaviours. Humans learn many skills (procedural, “how-to” knowledge) through observation[1]. Can observation of skilled movement patterns intermittent with physical practice result in a condensed time-course of motor learning, saving the trainee multiple sessions of repetitive practice? These changes are expressed as between-session improvements (off-line learning) of task performance or only in stabilization of performance[4,5]. Training related factors such as the number of task repetitions, feedback and instruction are critical in determining the course of on-line and off-line skill learning[6,7,8,9]. Previous studies[10,18] have shown that co-articulation of a sequence of planar hand movements in a task gradually develops through multiple training sessions and is subserved by changes in brain activity patterns[19]. Observing others performing a motor skill has been shown to benefit acquisition and learning, and importantly can even lead to skill consolidation of the observer[21]

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