Engaging Environments Enhance Motor Skill Learning in a Computer Gaming Task. Issue 2 (3rd March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lohse, Keith R.; Boyd, Lara A.; Hodges, Nicola J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of motor behavior. Volume 48:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 172
• Page End: 182
• Publication Date: 2016-03-03
• Subjects: motor learning -- video games -- engagement -- motivation; Human mechanics -- Periodicals; Movement, Psychology of -- Periodicals; Motor Activity -- Periodicals; Motor Skills -- Periodicals; Bewegingsleer; Mécanique humaine -- Périodiques; Psychomotricité -- Périodiques; 612.705
• DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2015.1068158
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2895

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Engagement during practice can motivate a learner to practice more, hence having indirect effects on learning through increased practice. However, it is not known whether engagement can also have a direct effect on learning when the amount of practice is held constant. To address this question, 40 participants played a video game that contained an embedded repeated sequence component, under either highly engaging conditions (the game group) or mechanically identical but less engaging conditions (the sterile group). The game environment facilitated retention over a 1-week interval. Specifically, the game group improved in both speed and accuracy for random and repeated trials, suggesting a general motor-related improvement, rather than a specific influence of engagement on implicit sequence learning. These data provide initial evidence that increased engagement during practice has a direct effect on generalized learning, improving retention and transfer of a complex motor skill.