HKR 3300 Final Exam Study Set With
Correct Solutions
speed-accuracy trade-off - ANSWER when both speed and accuracy are essential to
perform the skill; i.e., when speed is emphasized, accuracy is reduced and vice-versa
Fitt's Law - ANSWER a human performance law specifying the movement time for an
aiming movement when the distance to move and the target size are known
open-loop control - ANSWER process that occurs at movement initiation and moves limb
into the vicinity of the target; without feedback
closed-loop control - ANSWER process that occurs at movement termination in which
feedback from vision and proprioception at the end of movement ensure target is hit
accurately
preparation phase - ANSWER movement phase in which the regulatory conditions of
environmental context are assessed
initial flight phase - ANSWER movement phase in which we monitor limb displacement
and velocity; shift gaze to keyhole at 50% time-to-contact
termination phase - ANSWER movement phase in which we provide spatial-temporal info
to correct movement accuracy errors to ensure target is reached
prehension - ANSWER general term for actions involving reaching for and grasping of
objects; three components: transport, grasp, object manipulation
reflex chain - ANSWER a neural network that controls a sequence of responses based
on the sensory feedback provided by each element in the sequence
half-center hypothesis - ANSWER hypothesis by Graham Brown stating that the spinal
cord possessed spinal centers capable of intrinsically instigating flexor and extensor
movements without descending and/or sensory input
central pattern generators (CPG) - ANSWER neural mechanisms in the spinal cord that
produce rhythmic alternating activity in the extensor and flexor motorneurons
(locomotion) accomplished by phasic barrages of excitatory and inhibitory inputs to
motorneurons
Spontaneous gait transitions - ANSWER an important motor control characteristic of
locomotion in which people spontaneously change from walking to running gait (and
vice-versa) at critical speed
action preparation - ANSWER the activity that occurs between the intention to perform
, an action and the initiation of that action; sometimes, the term motor programming is
used to refer to this preparation activity
reaction time - ANSWER the amount of time taken to respond to a specific stimulus
(preparation time)
Hick's Law - ANSWER a law of human performance stating that RT will increase
logarithmically as the number of stimulus-response choices increases
precue - ANSWER an advance indication that a specific upcoming event will require a
response
cost-benefit trade-off - ANSWER the cost (in terms of slower RT) and benefit (in terms of
faster RT) that occur as a result of biasing the preparation of an action in favor of one of
several possible actions (as opposed to preparing as if each possible action were
equally probable)
stroop effect - ANSWER spatial arrangement of stimuli and their associated response
mechanisms
stimulus-response compatibility - ANSWER the extent to which a stimulus and its
required response are naturally related; the degree of relatedness affects reaction time
foreperiod - ANSWER in a reaction time paradigm, the time interval between a warning
signal and the go signal, or stimulus
psychological refractory period (PRP) - ANSWER a delay period during which a person
seems to put planned action "on hold" while executing a previously initiated action
vigilance - ANSWER the long term maintenance of alertness in a performance situation
in which stimuli requiring a response occur infrequently
postural preparation - ANSWER organization of movements needed for postural support
rhythmicity preparation - ANSWER consistent pre-performance rituals aid in success;
practicing components of the desired movement and help to prepare relative timing of
upcoming movements
force control - ANSWER object control characteristic in which the nervous system
adjusts before beginning a movement
end-state comfort control - ANSWER object control characteristic in which we grasp
objects based on what we plan to do with them
performance - ANSWER the behavioural act of executing a skill at a specific time and in
a specific situation; observable behaviour
learning - ANSWER change in the capability of a person to perform the skill; it must be
inferred from a relatively permanent improvement in performance as a result of practice
or experience and is not directly observable
Correct Solutions
speed-accuracy trade-off - ANSWER when both speed and accuracy are essential to
perform the skill; i.e., when speed is emphasized, accuracy is reduced and vice-versa
Fitt's Law - ANSWER a human performance law specifying the movement time for an
aiming movement when the distance to move and the target size are known
open-loop control - ANSWER process that occurs at movement initiation and moves limb
into the vicinity of the target; without feedback
closed-loop control - ANSWER process that occurs at movement termination in which
feedback from vision and proprioception at the end of movement ensure target is hit
accurately
preparation phase - ANSWER movement phase in which the regulatory conditions of
environmental context are assessed
initial flight phase - ANSWER movement phase in which we monitor limb displacement
and velocity; shift gaze to keyhole at 50% time-to-contact
termination phase - ANSWER movement phase in which we provide spatial-temporal info
to correct movement accuracy errors to ensure target is reached
prehension - ANSWER general term for actions involving reaching for and grasping of
objects; three components: transport, grasp, object manipulation
reflex chain - ANSWER a neural network that controls a sequence of responses based
on the sensory feedback provided by each element in the sequence
half-center hypothesis - ANSWER hypothesis by Graham Brown stating that the spinal
cord possessed spinal centers capable of intrinsically instigating flexor and extensor
movements without descending and/or sensory input
central pattern generators (CPG) - ANSWER neural mechanisms in the spinal cord that
produce rhythmic alternating activity in the extensor and flexor motorneurons
(locomotion) accomplished by phasic barrages of excitatory and inhibitory inputs to
motorneurons
Spontaneous gait transitions - ANSWER an important motor control characteristic of
locomotion in which people spontaneously change from walking to running gait (and
vice-versa) at critical speed
action preparation - ANSWER the activity that occurs between the intention to perform
, an action and the initiation of that action; sometimes, the term motor programming is
used to refer to this preparation activity
reaction time - ANSWER the amount of time taken to respond to a specific stimulus
(preparation time)
Hick's Law - ANSWER a law of human performance stating that RT will increase
logarithmically as the number of stimulus-response choices increases
precue - ANSWER an advance indication that a specific upcoming event will require a
response
cost-benefit trade-off - ANSWER the cost (in terms of slower RT) and benefit (in terms of
faster RT) that occur as a result of biasing the preparation of an action in favor of one of
several possible actions (as opposed to preparing as if each possible action were
equally probable)
stroop effect - ANSWER spatial arrangement of stimuli and their associated response
mechanisms
stimulus-response compatibility - ANSWER the extent to which a stimulus and its
required response are naturally related; the degree of relatedness affects reaction time
foreperiod - ANSWER in a reaction time paradigm, the time interval between a warning
signal and the go signal, or stimulus
psychological refractory period (PRP) - ANSWER a delay period during which a person
seems to put planned action "on hold" while executing a previously initiated action
vigilance - ANSWER the long term maintenance of alertness in a performance situation
in which stimuli requiring a response occur infrequently
postural preparation - ANSWER organization of movements needed for postural support
rhythmicity preparation - ANSWER consistent pre-performance rituals aid in success;
practicing components of the desired movement and help to prepare relative timing of
upcoming movements
force control - ANSWER object control characteristic in which the nervous system
adjusts before beginning a movement
end-state comfort control - ANSWER object control characteristic in which we grasp
objects based on what we plan to do with them
performance - ANSWER the behavioural act of executing a skill at a specific time and in
a specific situation; observable behaviour
learning - ANSWER change in the capability of a person to perform the skill; it must be
inferred from a relatively permanent improvement in performance as a result of practice
or experience and is not directly observable
