Physical Practice is Superior to Mental Practice In Enhancing Cognitive and Motor Task Performance

Abstract

This study compared varying ratios of physical to mental practice on cognitive (pegboard) and motor (pursuit rotor) task performance. Subjects (36 males and 36 females) were randomly assigned to one of six conditions experiencing different amounts of combined mental and physical practice. Seven practice sessions (four trials per session for the pegboard and eight trials per session for the pursuit rotor) were employed. ANOVA results showed that all treatment conditions, except the pegboard control group, showed significant differential pre- to posttest improvement. Furthermore, effect sizes and significant linear trends of posttest scores from both tasks showed that as the relative proportion of physical practice increased, performance was enhanced. In support of previous meta-analytic research, for all treatment groups, the effect sizes for the cognitive task were larger than for the motor task. These findings are consistent with the symbolic-learning theory explanation for mental-practice effects. In addition, the results indicate that replacing physical practice with any mental practice would be counterproductive.

Efeitos do posicionamento e quantidade de prática mental na aprendizagem do arremesso do dardo de salão

“…Outro procedimento é a utilização do período de pré-teste (com prática física da habilidade) no delineamento (HIRD et al, 1991, STEBBINS, 1968WOHLDMANN et al, 2008). Tais procedimentos podem contribuir para maior assimilação da tarefa, creditando à prática mental os efeitos de aprendizagem que ela não teria.…”

“…O posicionamento da prática mental em relação à prática física é outra variável estudada e também tem sido tradicionalmente testada com prática física e combinação de prática (CAHN, 2008;HIRD et al, 1991;MACKAY, 1981;MILLARD et al, 2001;RICHARDSON, 1967a;STEBBINS, 1968;WULF et al, 1995). Este tema de investigação está vinculado aos resultados de pesquisa que investigaram o próprio efeito da prática mental e combinação de prática.…”

Beyond componentry: How principles of motor learning can enhance locomotor rehabilitation of individuals with lower limb loss--A review

“…Observational training [54][55] and mental practice [56][57] are most effective when interspersed with physical practice. Combining physical practice with observational training is referred to as dyad training.…”

Learning and Long-Term Retention of a Complex Sensorimotor Task Within an Immersive Virtual Reality Environment in a Non-Injured Population

“…Various studies have analyzed the effect of different methods of training a motor skill and demonstrated that mentally practicing a motor skill provides some improvement in performance [5], but it does not serve as a replacement for physical practice [6]. Immersive virtual reality environments (IVREs) have been used to augment practice of motor tasks by simultaneously challenging physical and mental performance, particularly in the field of rehabilitation [7,8].…”