Effects of Feedback on Learning of a Motor Sequence Task

University of South Carolina

Status: Completed

Conditions: Adult

Treatments: Behavioral: Motor Sequence Task

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04270448

Pro00095119

Details and patient eligibility

About

Feedback delivered during motor practice can help promote motor skill learning and promote confidence. However, the optimal way to provide feedback to promote learning and confidence is unknown. This project will study how the feedback that is provided during practice of a movement skill can help people learn and build confidence. The investigators will measure motor skill performance and confidence before and after a session of motor practice.

Full description

Feedback may be a useful tool to optimize motor learning during practice. For example, feedback during practice that indicates the learner is performing above average (i.e. positive social comparative feedback) enhances motor skill learning and self-efficacy in healthy adults. While this type of feedback is hypothesized to promote learning in some tasks, no studies have examined whether positive social comparative feedback during practice promotes motor learning in a traditional motor sequence task. Therefore, the aim of the proposed project is to investigate the effect of positive social comparative feedback on the learning of a joystick-based motor sequence task in healthy adults. The study aims to recruit 60 participants who will be randomized into 1 of 3 feedback groups (control group, performance feedback, and performance plus positive feedback). Participants will practice a motor sequence task on a single day and then return for retention performance testing about 24 hours later. Changes in performance (response time to complete a sequence) and self-efficacy will be measured from baseline to 24 hours later at retention.

Enrollment: 54 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18 to 40 years
• Right-hand dominant

Exclusion criteria

• Medical diagnosis or medication that affects dopamine (e.g. dopamine reuptake inhibitors)
• musculoskeletal issues that limit upper extremity movement

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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54 participants in 3 patient groups

Control

Active Comparator group

Description:

Practice of a joystick based motor sequence task. Participants receive feedback that they have completed the practice trials in that block of practice.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Motor Sequence Task

Performance Feedback

Experimental group

Description:

Practice of a joystick based motor sequence task. Participants receive feedback on their response time to complete the trials in the practice block.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Motor Sequence Task

Performance plus Positive Feedback

Experimental group

Description:

Practice of a joystick based motor sequence task. Participants receive feedback on their response time to complete the trials in the practice block plus positive social comparative feedback.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Motor Sequence Task