Chapter 10

Lab

View or print the lab as a PDF.

Study Questions

  1. What are the differences between motor learning and motor control?
  2. What is the law of effect?
  3. How are the following structures involved in movement control: motor cortex, cerebellum, basal ganglia, spinal cord, muscle spindle?
  4. What is the difference between open-loop and closed-loop control?
  5. What are the two main vocational avenues for people in motor learning
    and motor control?

Learning Activities

  1. Go to the International Society of Motor Control (ISMC) website (www.i-s-m-c.org). Describe the benefits of membership and what the cost is. Identify when and where the annual convention will be held.
  2. Go to the Motor Control (the official journal of ISMC) website (www.humankinetics.com/MC/journalAbout.cfm). Search for articles (from Motor Control only) containing information concerning the various practice methods mentioned in the chapter. Write a brief description of what you found.
  3. Search online to discover the spectrum of research being conducted by professionals in motor control and motor learning. Find an article published in the past year and write a brief synopsis.
  4. Research (using online and/or printed sources) possible career options related to motor learning and motor development for students in exercise science.

Suggested Readings

Christina, R. W. (1989). Whatever happened to applied research in motor learning? In J. S. Skinner, C. B. Corbin, D. M. Landers, P. E. Martin, & C. L. Wells (Eds.), Future directions in exercise and sport science research (pp. 411–422). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Christina, R. W. (1997). Concerns and issues in studying and assessing motor learning. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 1, 19–38.
Haywood, K. M., & Getchell, N. (2009). Life span motor development (5th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Kelso, J. A. S. (1991). Dynamic patterns. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Schmidt, R. A., & Lee, T. D. (2011). Motor control and learning: a behavioral emphasis (5th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Websites