Reacquisition and transfer of motor skills with sensory feedback reduction

Abstract

Reacquisition and transfer of Morse key tapping and finger circling under total peripheral feedback reduction were investigated. 23 medical students were tested. Kinesthetic and tactile feedback were reduced by compression block. The results showed that tapping performance was reacquired to 56.4% of normal and circling to 26.4% by the tenth preshift trials. Strong positive transfer was found for both tasks in Groups 1 and 2. This positive transfer indicated the existence of central, general programming operations. With trials alternating between the two tasks (Group 3) reacquisition curves followed the preshift trials for tapping and circling, showing absence of adverse emotional influence of the block technique. Marked individual differences in performance in the absence of peripheral information were observed, grouping Ss into two distinct categories.