Errorless Practice to Facilitate Implicit Motor Learning in Children

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if the reduction of errors during practice facilitates implicit motor learning processes in children. 30 children (meanage =11.33±1.32 yr) threw beanbags with a near-to-far or a far-to-near order, while their vision was occluded. The near-to-far group began the acquisition phase at a distance of 2 m from the target. Then, they practiced the task at a distance of 3 m, 4 m and finally 5 m from the target. Far-to-near group began the practice phase at the distance of 5 m and then moved to 4 m, 3 m and 2 m respectively. Delayed single-task and dual-task tests were administered at a distance of 3.50 m from the target. During the acquisition phase, the ratio of errors made by the near-to-far (errorless) group was found to be significantly less than the far-to-near (errorful) group. No significant intergroup difference was found in the single-task test. The results also revealed that the errorless group performed the task with less errors than the errorful group in the dual-task condition. It was generally concluded that less errors during practicing a motor skill can facilitate the use of implicit motor learning processes in children.

Keywords

• dual-task
• errorless learning
• implicit learning
• throwing