Shaping motor behavior on multiple levels by modifying perceptual settings

Abstract

Complexity in sport situations is a challenge for research on motor behavior in sport and for the development of methods for improving performance. To understand the mechanisms of motor performance, it is necessary to combine basic and applied research approaches and to investigate motor behavior on multiple levels. The present thesis follows a multiple-level approach by investigating mechanisms of motor control, movement representations and mechanisms of change at different levels of complexity. The aim is to analyze features of basic movements, to find out how they are embedded within complex movement types and to develop practical applications for the improvement of motor learning processes. This is made possible by combining two methods that allowed to modify perceptual settings and thereby controlling information processing: Visuomotor methods were used for investigation and adaptation of representations of fine motor skills. The method of sonification was applied to analyze and modify gross motor and complex movements as well as interpersonal coordination. The results indicate that simple movements such as reactive saccades and two-dimensional hand movements are controlled by lower sensorimotor as well as higher cognitive hierarchies. Moreover, they revealed that motor functions are structured modularly. Extensive practice allows access to slow-acting learning and control mechanisms which yield persistent effects on motor behavior. Fast-acting mechanisms can be activated by a specific arrangement of perceptual information and the pre activation of basic sensorimotor modules. Specific executive functions might support this effect. Results on sonification indicate that this method predominantly addresses higher hierarchies which is reflected in the quick effects achieved on the perceptual and motor level even without specific methodological knowledge. Based on these results, two systems for the improvement of motor functions in sport and adjacent disciplines have been developed. Studies provide empirical evidence for their impact on gross motor skills in stroke rehabilitation and fine motor skills during writing acquisition. Furthermore, approaches for a targeted improvement of interpersonal coordination (joint action) are presented. The combined results of this thesis show that modifications of perceptual settings make it possible to study a variety of movements in a continuity from most simple to most complex. The findings can be embedded into hierarchical models of motor control which allow the systematic development of methods with great flexibility to improve motor competencies in the field of sport and adjacent domains.