Learning-Model Action Observation: An Investigation in Long-Term Motor Learning Outcomes

Abstract

Early motor learning is driven by error commission and feedback during physical practice (PP). Motor learning can also be facilitated by action observation (AO), which classically involves observing a skilled model flawlessly complete a skill. To determine whether error-dependent feedback is conserved in AO, participants were recruited to learn a dart-throwing task via AO and PP. Over a 6-week period, participants observed either a learning model, who commits and corrects errors, or a skilled model committing no errors, followed by PP of the task. Participants’ performance on both the primary task and a transfer task was measured and contrasted to determine which AO model resulted in better motor learning. Results indicated that while the learning model group generally performed better on both tasks, the difference was not significant, suggesting that learning model AO may not be superior to skilled model AO in long-term motor learning.