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Identical coursesMotor Control and Learning (B-KUL-L00B8B)
Cannot be taken as part of an examination contractAims
After completing this course, the student is able:
- To understand and compare theories with respect to motor learning
- To classify motor skills and to obtain knowledge about how to measure these motor skills
- To understand the role of intrinsic feedback in motor control and learning
- To know and understand the impact of various types of instruction and augmented feedback
- To understand the impact of the organization of practice on performance and learning
- To obtain knowledge about and understand the fundamental principles of movement coordination
- To know and interpret the neurophysiological basis of motor learning and neuroplasticity
- To translate theories concerning attention towards the field of motor learning
- To have knowledge on the various memory systems as well as their role in the learning of motor skills
- To define and evaluate learning
- To understand and explain the underlying mechanism of motor imagery on the learning of motor skills
- To describe the acquisition of expertise (including neural differences between experts and novices)
- To understand the effects of training on postural control
- To understand the effects of aging on motor control
This course helps the student:
- To understand how the control of movement evolves and how sensory information interacts with movement execution
- To understand how learning processes can be optimized and how neuroplasticity can be induced
- To understand how movement control and learning changes as a consequence of age and pathology
Previous knowledge
Prerequisites for students who are not registrered for the program bachelor of Physical Education and Movement Sciences/Master of Movement and Sports Sciences, but wish to include the course as a component of choice in their program:
These students should contact the coordinator of the course. On the basis of prior knowledge and motivation, the coordinator will determine whether or not the student can be admitted to the course.
Previous knowledge
We refer to the previous knowledge required for academic bachelor degrees of the group Biomedical sciences of the K.U.Leuven.
In addition:
- students know the different components of the neuromuscular system
- students know the central and the peripheric nervous system
- students can read and understand English
- students are experienced with statistics
- students can interpret research outcomes creatively
Order of Enrolment
You can only take this course if you have to acquire no more than 162 credits to obtain your degree.
Mixed prerequisite:
You may only take this course if you comply with the prerequisites. Prerequisites can be strict or flexible, or can imply simultaneity. A degree level can be also be a prerequisite.
Explanation:
STRICT: You may only take this course if you have passed or applied tolerance for the courses for which this condition is set.
FLEXIBLE: You may only take this course if you have previously taken the courses for which this condition is set.
SIMULTANEOUS: You may only take this course if you also take the courses for which this condition is set (or have taken them previously).
DEGREE: You may only take this course if you have obtained this degree level.
SIMULTANEOUS(L09A9B)
The codes of the course units mentioned above correspond to the following course descriptions:
L09A9B : Fysiologie/neurofysiologie
This course unit is a prerequisite for taking the following course units:
L03J5A : Pathologie bij neurologische en pediatrische aandoeningen
Is included in these courses of study
- Bachelor in de lichamelijke opvoeding en de bewegingswetenschappen (verkort programma) (Leuven) 92 ects.
- Courses for Exchange Students Faculty of Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences (Leuven)
- Bachelor in de lichamelijke opvoeding en de bewegingswetenschappen (Leuven) 180 ects.
- Voorbereidingsprogramma: Master in de bewegings- en sportwetenschappen (Leuven) (Traject doorstroom naar Biomedical Research in Movement Sciences) 106 ects.
- Voorbereidingsprogramma: Master in de bewegings- en sportwetenschappen (Leuven) (Traject doorstroom naar Prestatie- en actievelevensstijlcoaching) 106 ects.
- Schakelprogramma: Educatieve master in de lichamelijke opvoeding (Leuven) (Traject na educatieve bachelor ‘LO met bewegingsrecreatie’) 83 ects.
- Schakelprogramma: Educatieve master in de lichamelijke opvoeding (Leuven) (Traject na educatieve bachelor ‘LO zonder bewegingsrecreatie’) 83 ects.
- Voorbereidingsprogramma: Educatieve master in de lichamelijke opvoeding (Leuven) 115 ects.
Activities
3 ects. Motor Control and Learning (B-KUL-L00B8a)
Content
The content of this course is divided into several chapters in which the following topics are discussed:
- Theories with respect to motor learning. The most prominent theories will be explained.
- Motor skills. After defining the concepts of control and learning, the classification of motor skills based on various criteria is discussed. This is followed by an explanation on how to measure performance of motor skills. Furthermore, the assessment and measurement of motor learning is discussed.
- Introduction to motor control and the role of intrinsic feedback. The role of proprioception, tactile and visual input is explained, as well as the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms.
- The impact of various modes of instruction and augmented feedback on motor learning are discussed. Here, both goal-oriented feedback and movement-oriented feedback as well as timing of these types of feedback are addressed. The effect of demonstration and verbal instructions on motor learning are considered. Furthermore, the mirror neuron system is explained as a neurophysiological substrate for observational learning.
- Introduction to movement coordination. The fundamental principles of movement coordination are discussed for the upper limbs as well as other combinations of limbs.
- Learning, memory and organization of the exercise session: all aspects of the contextual interference effect are explained and applied in tasks of varying degrees of difficulty.
- The neurophysiological basis of motor learning and plasticity.
- Attention: All aspects of attention in preparation for an action are shown. The importance of the visual system in studying the moving person is explained in more detail.
- The acquisition of expertise. We discuss how people in sports and other settings acquire exceptional expertise and how this expertise is expressed in the observational, decisive and executive component of the (sports) performance.
- Mental training. The underlying mechanisms of motor imagery on the learning of motor skills during normal and pathological functioning are described.
- Aging and its motor consequences: We describe the effects of aging on the human system, including the musculoskeletal system and the brain. We explain the effects of aging on human movement (coordination, speed and accuracy of movement) and postural control
Course material
Course material will be communicated to the student during the first class or via Toledo prior to the first class.
Format: more information
Lectures - Lesson recordings
A combination of lectures (mainly), video recordings (occasionally), interactive/response lectures.
Students are expected to actively participate during all lectures, memorize the subject matter, and reflect on practical implications. The teacher regularly asks questions and the students also get the opportunity to ask questions themselves. The students memorize the course content with the help of the practical courses and exercises, and are encouraged to interpret research findings themselves.
1 ects. Motor Control and Learning: Practical Exercises (B-KUL-L00F4a)
Content
The students experience hands-on:
- How to measure performance (errors) and learning
- Processes of response time, movement time and information processing
- Principles of movement coordination and learning patterns
- The influence of reducing, biasing or eliminating sensory input on motor performance
- (Neural aspects of) motor/postural control and learning
Course material
Course material will be communicated to the student during the first class or via Toledo prior to the first class.
Format: more information
The students experience hands-on:
- How to measure performance (errors) and learning
- Processes of response time, movement time and information processing
- Principles of movement coordination and learning patterns
- The influence of reducing, biasing or eliminating sensory input on motor performance
- Neural aspects of motor control and learning
Evaluation
Evaluation: Motor Control and Learning (B-KUL-L20B8b)
Explanation
The motor control and learning exam is questioned on the basis of open questions (20%) and multiple-choice questions (80%) with correction for guessing.
The practical lessons are compulsory. The content of the practical lessons is part of the subject matter of the exam. The weighted average is corrected by -1 if the student is more than 20% unlawfully absent. There is no resit for the practical lessons. A negative point is carried over to the third examination period.
The students are expected to be acquainted with the education and the examination regulations of the KU Leuven and the faculty additions, including the rules about plagiarism.