Abstract
Traditionally, repetitive practice of a task is used to learn a new skill, exhibiting as immediately improved performance. Research suggests, however, that a more experience-based rather than exposure-based training protocol may allow for better transference of the skill to related tasks. In synergy-based motor control theory, fundamental motor skills, such as hand grasping, are represented with a synergy subspace that captures essential motor patterns. In this study, we propose that motor-skill learning through synergy-based mechanisms may provide advantages over traditional task repetition learning. A new task was designed to highlight the range of motion and dexterity of the human hand. Two separate training strategies were tested in healthy subjects: task repetition training and synergy training versus a control. All three groups showed improvements when retested on the same task. When tested on a similar, but different set of tasks, only the synergy group showed improvements in accuracy (9.27% increase) compared to the repetition (3.24% decline) and control (3.22% decline) groups. A kinematic analysis revealed that although joint angular peak velocities decreased, timing benefits stemmed from the initial feed-forward portion of the task (reaction time). Accuracy improvements may have derived from general improved coordination among the four involved fingers. These preliminary results warrant further investigation of synergy-based motor training in healthy individuals, as well as in individuals undergoing hand-based rehabilitative therapy.
Highlights
From learning to grasp a ball to learning to type at a keyboard, we are continuously tasked with acquiring new motor skills throughout life
Results from the task performance analysis show that the synergy group performed significantly better in the Phase 4 compared to the task repetition and control groups
Motor learning is often characterized by acquisition, retention, and transference of a new motor skill (Magill and Anderson, 2007)
Summary
From learning to grasp a ball to learning to type at a keyboard, we are continuously tasked with acquiring new motor skills throughout life. It is apparent that both repetition and interleaved practice have advantages and disadvantages; balancing both learning strategies may allow us to optimize motor-skill learning. This balance of these learning variables is especially important for individuals in rehabilitative therapy that must relearn essential skills, with limited time and usually, limited muscle strength. It is hypothesized that after years of learning, the motor control system has optimized the “reach and grasp” motor task This skill may be represented in the CNS as motor synergies that encode simultaneous coordination of the many involved joints versus individual control of each joint. We hypothesize that the task repetition group will exhibit stronger performance during the retest phase, while the synergy group will exhibit stronger performance during the transference phase
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
