High frequency of concurrent feedback slows the learning of a serial motor skill

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of concurrent feedback (CF) frequency on the efficiency, acquisition and transference of a serial tracking motor skill. Forty-three young adults of both sexes were divided into three groups: frequency of 100% (G100), 50% (G50) and 0% (G0). They practiced a tracking motor task of touching six sensors in response to the sequential lightening of six correspondent light stimuli. Performance was measured by the number of trial blocks required to recognize and repeat the sequence, and the total number of correct and/or anticipated sequences. The analysis of variance showed that G0 needed less blocks than G100 to achieve acquisition criterion. Although there was no effect of different frequencies on the FC regading the number of correct and anticipated responses, it was observed that performing the task with high FC frequency delayed the acquisition of the skill.