Week 8: Action Preparation and Motor Control
KIN 479: Motor Control - Sections 19617 & 19821
Welcome to Week 8
This week, we will explore the preparation and control aspects of motor actions, focusing on how the nervous system plans and initiates movements. We will cover topics such as reaction time, Hick’s law, and factors influencing motor preparation.
Objectives
- Video Overview | Discuss why reaction time (RT) can be an index of preparation required to perform a motor skill.
- Video Overview | Explain how Hick’s law describes the relationship between the number of alternatives in a choice-RT situation and RT.
- Video Overview | Describe various task and situation characteristics that influence action preparation.
- Video Overview | Describe various performer characteristics that influence action preparation.
- Video Overview | Discuss several motor control activities that occur during action preparation.
Required Readings
Magill & Anderson (2017, ch. 8)
Prepare
- Study the slides for this topic.
Depending on your browser and network speed, the slides may take a moment to load.
You will be prompted to enter a password to access the presentation. Contact the instructor for access details.
Participate
- Monday: Actively participate during the QA session.
- Wednesday: Complete the in-class activities scheduled for this week.
Lab Ch08 - Reaction Time
Click here to open the lab instructions and materials.
Practice
Use our StudyApp to review key concepts and test your knowledge.
The app includes flashcards, quizzes, and other interactive tools to help reinforce your understanding of the material.
You must use the link provided in Canvas to access the study materials.
Perform
- Monday: Review the slides and prepare for the in-class activities scheduled for this week - Exit Ticket.
- Wednesday: Take the in-class quiz and convert three multiple-choice questions to short answer format - 5 points.