Effects of bandwidth knowledge of results by components in learning a sequential motor task

Abstract

Feedback can have a detrimental effect on motor learning if it is provided too frequently. Based on this,a previous study adopted an assumption that augmented feedback related only about critical elements of skills will avoid its adverse effects and could improve motor learning. The present study aimed to test this assumption. The task consisted of performing a sequence of touches in keypad with absolute and relative time goals. The experiment was divided into acquisition phase and retention test. During acquisition, knowledge of resultsabout all components was provided to a groupwhile another group received this information only for the component whose error was higher than 15% of the goal. The results showed that there was no significant difference between groups in performance measures. Maybe the presentation of quantitative and qualitative information at the same trial caused an overloadin processing information. The possibility that it acts in the same way as the negative guidance properties of feedback was discussed.