Task integration in complex, bimanual sequence learning tasks

Sequence learning and multitasking studies have largely focused on simple motor skills, which cannot be directly transferred to the plethora of complex skills found outside of laboratory conditions. Established theories e.g. for bimanual tasks and task integration thus have to be reassessed in the context of complex motor skills. We hypothesize that under more complex conditions, task integration facilitates motor learning, impedes or suppresses effector-specific learning and can still be observed despite partial secondary task interference. We used the Ξ-apparatus to assess the learning success of six groups in a bimanual dual-task, in which we manipulated the degree of possible integration between the right-hand and the left-hand sequences. We could show that task integration positively influences the learning of these complex, bimanual skills. However, the integration impedes but not fully suppresses effector-specific learning, as we could measure reduced hand-specific learning. Task integration improves learning despite the disruptive effect of partial secondary task interference, but its mitigating effect is only effective to some extent. Overall, the results suggest that previous insights on sequential motor learning and task integration can largely also be applied to complex motor skills

Predictive value of forearm muscle oxygenation parameters for climbing-specific finger endurance and competitive climbing performance

Purpose Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a valid and reliable method to assess forearm muscle oxygenation in sport climbing, focusing on evaluating single parameters. The study assessed the predictive value of various NIRS parameters in climbing-specifc settings, during intermittent fnger endurance testing and in a simulated climbing competition. Methods 52 recreational climbers (28.5±6.3 y) performed an intermittent fnger endurance test and 10 competitive climbers (20.2±6.3 y) participated in a simulated lead climbing competition. Continuous-wave NIRS were used to assess oxygenation and blood volume changes. Results NIRS parameters predicted 26.4% of the variance in the intermittent test, with mean minima and maxima of O2Hb and mean maxima of TSI% of the single repetitions being the predictors. No signifcant diferences existed between the last valid and the frst nonvalid repetition on the combined dependent variable. For the simulated competition, a statistically signifcant diference between the 20 s intervals on the combined dependent variables was found with posthoc testing showing signifcant univariate within-subjects efects for HHb, tHb & TSI, but not for O2Hb. Conclusion The results indicate that for the intermittent test, high re- and deoxygenation abilities, and for the climbing competition, the accumulation of HHb concentration levels have the highest predictability

Optimization of an intermittent finger endurance test for climbers regarding gender and deviation in force and pulling time

Performance diagnostics of finger strength is very relevant in climbing. The aim of our study was to find modalities for an intermittent finger flexor muscle endurance test that optimize the correlation of test performance with lead climbing performance. Twenty-seven female and 25 male climbers pulled with 60% MVC and a work-to-rest ratio of 7:2 s on a fingerboard until fatigue. The highest correlations, R = 0.429, were found for women when 9% deviation in the required force and 1 s deviation in the required pulling time was tolerated. For men, the optimum was reached with the same time deviation and a force deviation of 6%, R = 0.691. Together with maximum finger strength the repetitions explained 31.5% of the variance of climbing ability in women and 46.3% in men. Consequences from our results are to tolerate at least 7% force deviation for women and 5% for men and to terminate the finger endurance test quickly after the force falls below the threshold

Contributions of open-loop and closed-loop control in a continuous tracking task differ depending on attentional demands during practice

We provide tracking data of the analysed segments after filtering, cognitive performance data and indivdual force levels. To this end, the data set contains three zip-files of numbers of csv-files and an additional csv-file. In each csv-file, comma delimits information within the rows. Participant numbers range between 1 and 21 where the first 11 numbers always refer to the participants of the single-task training group and the final 10 numbers refer to the participants of the dual-task training group. The IndividualForceMaximum.csv includes separate rows of participant’s information about training group, individual force maximum, and the 10% value of the force maximum, which was important for adapting the required force to the individual applicable leg force. The CognitiveTaskData.zip contains four csv-files. Two files are for the TEST sessions, which include either the total number of responses or the number of correct responses per trial for each participant within a row. The other two files are for the TRAINING data (either total number of responses or number of correct responses) of the cognitive task for the participants of the dual-task training group. The file includes 15 trials of the first and the last five training days (i.e., days 1 to 5, and days 18 to 22). For each participant the training data is presented in a row. The tracking data is split with respect to the training groups in either the single-task training group, i.e., MotorTaskData_SingleTaskTrainingGroup.zip, or the dual-task training group, i.e., MotorTaskData_DualTaskTrainingGroup.zip. Each of the zip-files includes TESTING and TRAINING data in csv-files for each participant P separately. We further separated the TEMPLATE data and the PERFORMANCE data, i.e., for instance template test file of P1 corresponds with performance test file of P1. Each trial is presented in a row, where the header includes the segment information (i.e., first segment = 1, second segment = 2, and third segment = 3) for each data point. TEST data include trials with the practiced second segment and the catch trials with another second segment. TRAINING data include the 15 trials of the first and the last five training days (i.e., days 1 to 5, and days 18 to 22)

Transfer naučenoga u pripremnome treningu daskanja (skateboarding) na učenje monoskijanja (snowboarding)

Surfing’s progeny, snowboarding and skateboarding, present similar positional, visual, and kinesthetic reafferential aspects. Such aspects lead us to the assumption of a positive knowledge transfer from skateboarding to snowboarding. In this investigation we analyzed the probability of and theories for the transfer effect under field conditions. Students of the experimental group received five skateboarding lessons. They then joined a student control group for a six-day school snowboarding trip. Both groups were videotaped on the second and sixth days of the trip. Experts rated snowboarding performance of subjects pertaining to either of groups on a scale of one (very bad) to ten (excellent) points. Inter-rater reliability was very good. While there were no significant differences between the groups on the second day, the students of the experimental group significantly outperformed students of the control group in snowboarding on the sixth day (Mcontrol=4.80, SDcontrol=2.10; Mtreat=6.56, SDtreat=2.10; T=-1.78, df=16, pone-tailed=.045, d=-.83). Given a common underlying structure of skateboarding and snowboarding, skateboarding lessons that develop that structure have a facilitation effect on learning how to snowboard successfully.Potomci jahanja ili daskanja na valovima (engl. surfing) – monoskijanje ili daskanje na snijegu (engl. snowboarding) i daskanje (engl. skateboarding), slični su prema pozicijskim, vizualnim i kinestetičkim aspektima. Takvo stajalište dovelo je do stvaranja pretpostavke kako je moguće očekivati pozitivan transfer naučenoga sa skateboardinga na snowboarding. U ovome istraživanju analizirali smo vjerojatnost i teorijske osnove za efekte transfera u terenskim uvjetima. Studenti iz eksperimentalne grupe proveli su 5 treninga daskanja (skateboaring). Nakon toga su se priključili kontrolnoj skupini ispitanika na šestodnevnom školskom putovanju na učenje monoskijanja (snowboarding). Ispitanici obiju grupa su snimljeni tijekom monoskijanja drugoga i šestoga dana izleta. Eksperti su ocijenili izvedbe ispitanika iz obiju grupa pomoću skale od 1 (vrlo loše) do 10 (izvrsno) bodova. Pouzdanost mjernoga instrumenta bila je vrlo dobra. Nije bilo statistički značajnih razlika između grupa u inicijalnome testiranju provedenom drugoga dana, dok su u drugom mjerenju, provedenom šestoga dana izleta, zabilježene statistički značajne razlike između grupa u korist eksperimentalne grupe (Mkont=4,80, SDkont=2,10; Meksperim=6,56, SDeksperim=2,10; T=-1,78, df=16, p=0,045, d=-0,83). S obzirom na slične osnovne strukture kretanja u daskanju i monoskijanju, treninzi daskanja su omogućili svladavanje zajedničkih struktura kretanja, čime su proizveli olakšavajuće efekte u učenju daskanja na snijegu

The impact of predictability on dual-task performance and implications for resource-sharing accounts.

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of predictability on dual-task performance by systematically manipulating predictability in either one of two tasks, as well as between tasks. According to capacity-sharing accounts of multitasking, assuming a general pool of resources two tasks can draw upon, predictability should reduce the need for resources and allow more resources to be used by the other task. However, it is currently not well understood what drives resource-allocation policy in dual tasks and which resource allocation policies participants pursue. We used a continuous tracking task together with an audiomotor task and manipulated advance visual information about the tracking path in the first experiment and a sound sequence in the second experiments (2a/b). Results show that performance predominantly improved in the predictable task but not in the unpredictable task, suggesting that participants did not invest more resources into the unpredictable task. One possible explanation was that the re-investment of resources into another task requires some relationship between the tasks. Therefore, in the third experiment, we covaried the two tasks by having sounds 250 ms before turning points in the tracking curve. This enabled participants to improve performance in both tasks, suggesting that resources were shared better between tasks

Leistungsstrukturanalyse im Praxischeck – Diskussion theoretischer Vorgaben und der praktischen Umsetzung am Beispiel des Sportkletterns

Es ist eine zentrale Aufgabe trainingswissenschaftlicher Forschung, Leistungsstrukturmodelle zu erstellen. Durch die Leistungsstrukturanalyse werden Eigenschaften identifiziert und hierarchisiert, welche die Leistung in einer spezifischen Sportart bedingen. In der Literatur gibt es Vorschläge für die dazu notwendigen Arbeitsschritte. Beispiele aus der Sportpraxis zeigen jedoch, dass diese nicht immer wie geplant umgesetzt werden können. In dem vorliegenden Diskussionsbeitrag beschreiben wir unser Vorgehen bei der Entwicklung eines Leistungsstrukturmodells im Sportklettern. An diesem Beispiel diskutieren wir Möglichkeiten und Grenzen des theoretisch proklamierten Vorgehens. Wir verdeutlichen die verschiedenen Entscheidungsoptionen und unterbreiten Vorschläge für ein allgemeines, praktikables Vorgehen zur zukünftigen Entwicklung von Leistungsstrukturmodellen