Can Metric Feedback Training Hinder Actions Involving Distance?

Abstract

Distance estimation training with metric feedback may not generalize to other tasks and may even degrade performance on certain tasks. Future research must specify the conditions under which distance estimation training with metric feedback leads to performance improvements and decrements.

The Effects of Prism Adaptation on Egocentric Metric Distance Estimation

“…More specifically, we predicted that what was essentially our original transfer task (i.e., throwing) would affect subsequent throwing, but would not affect what was essentially our original training task (i.e., metric distance estimation). The results of the present study confirmed our predictions, which supported our argument that the negative transfer that we reported in Jones et al (2009) stemmed from cognitive intrusion. To be clear, we do not claim that the negative transfer across settings that was reported in Ferris (1972Ferris ( , 1973a also stemmed from cognitive intrusion.…”

“…In summary, the results of the present study supported our argument that the negative transfer across tasks that we reported in Jones et al (2009) estimation training to distance estimation tasks that are primarily perceptual-motor in nature. Furthermore, our results suggest that researchers must develop a better understanding of distance estimation tasks and settings, as well as how metric estimation training transfers to those tasks and settings.…”

“…In prior work, we argued that metric estimation training negatively transferred to a throwing task because participants allowed cognitive strategies that they learned during training to intrude on what would have otherwise been a primarily perceptual-motor task (Jones et al, 2009). That explanation suggested that cognition can intrude on primarily perceptual-motor tasks, but primarily perceptual-motor tasks cannot intrude on primarily cognitive tasks.…”

“…Instead, metric estimation training programs need to account for the fact that different distance estimation tasks require different processes, and those differences can affect how metric estimation training transfers to other distance estimation tasks (Jones et al, 2009). Similarly, metric estimation training programs need to account for the fact that distance estimation in one setting may be different than distance estimation in a different setting (Ferris, 1972(Ferris, , 1973a.…”

“…Furthermore, it positively transferred to a different task (Jones et al, 2009) and to certain settings (Ferris, 1972(Ferris, , 1973a. It also, however, negatively transferred to another task and other settings.…”