Abstract des Autors

From a nonlinear dynamics perspective, presence of movement variability before
a change in preferred movement patterns is hypothesized to afford the necessary
adaptability and flexibility for seeking novel functional behaviors. In this study,
four novice participants practiced a discrete multiarticular movement for 12 sessions
over 4 weeks. Cluster analysis procedures revealed how changes between
preferred movement patterns were affected with and without the presence of variability
in movement clusters before a defined change. Performance improved in
all participants as a function of practice. Participants typically showed evidence of
change between preferred movement clusters and higher variability in the use of
movement clusters within a session. However, increasing variability in movement
clusters was not always accompanied by transition from one preferred movement
cluster to another. In summary, it was observed that intentional and informational
constraints play an important role in influencing the specific pathway of change
for individual learners as they search for new preferred movement patterns.