Frequência do Conhecimento de Resultado Autocontrolado na Aprendizagem Motora de Idosos.

Abstract

Knowledge of result (KR) is a category of extrinsic feedback with information about the performance result when performing a task, and it is one of the main factors that affect motor skills acquisition. The results of self-controlled KR in elderly’s motor learning have not been as consistent as in adults. In addition, the studies that was found do not seem to notice how freedom is used by the learner with regard to the frequency of solicitation resulting from self-control. Thus, the present study investigated the frequencies resulting from the KR self-control solicitation in the learning of a coincident timing task with occlusion in elderly, seeking to understand their request strategies in the self-controlled condition. A total of 41 elderly people participated in this study, with mean age of 65.2 (SD =4.6). The experimental design consisted in four phases: baseline (4 trials), acquisition (84 trials); immediate retention and transfer (20 trials each). The main performance measures were as following: the absolute error, constant error and variable error. As a complementary measure the strategies of KR solicitation through a questionnaire (half and end of the acquisition phase) were used. The results indicated that the elderly requested KR in different total quantities, making it possible to identify peaks of solicitation. From the frequency of KR solicitations in the acquisition phase, participants were distributed into two groups (n = 13 each): Minor group (63.9 ± 3.7 years) and Major group (65.7 ± 5.2 years), which differed in the number of KR solicitations during the acquisition phase. The results revealed that both groups improved performance between baseline and retention in absolute and constant errors. However, the Major group had lower absolute and constant error compared to the Minor group in retention test and transfer test. Regarding the KR solicitation preferences in both groups, most participants reported maintaining the same strategy: randomly, regardless of performance, both in the first and second half of the acquisition phase. However, regarding the non-solicitation of the KR, the groups differed from each other. In the Minor group, the majority reported non-solicitation of the KR after bad trials in the first half of the acquisition phase. In the second half, the majority reported non-solicitation of the KR regardless of performance. In the Major group, the majority kept the same strategy, always willing to see the feedback. In conclusion, self-control of KR in elderly resulted in different solicitation amounts and those who solicitated more frequently had benefits in the learning of timing task with occlusion. Thus, the benefits of self-controlled KR in the elderly could be associated with the frequency of solicitation.