The Effect of Cognitive and Motor Dual Tasks on the Synergy of Lower Limb Muscles During Walking.

Objective: Walking is one of the most complex human movements that can be affected by various sources of attention. Dual tasks reduce attention, increase information processing, and may alter control mechanisms such as synergy. However, the effect of dual tasks on muscle synergy remains unknown.

Learning through observation: a combination of expert and novice models favors learning.

Observation of an expert or novice model promotes the learning of a motor skill. In two experiments, we determined the effects of a mixed observation schedule (a combination of expert and novice models) on the learning of a sequential timing task. In Experiment 1, participants observed a novice, expert, or both novice and expert models.

Effects of the model's handedness and observer's viewpoint on observational learning.

Observation promotes motor skill learning. However, little is known about the type of model and conditions of observation that can optimize learning. In this study, we investigated the effects of the model's handedness and the observer's viewpoint on the learning of a complex spatiotemporal task.

Observation learning versus physical practice leads to different consolidation outcomes in a movement timing task.

Motor learning is a process that extends beyond training sessions. Specifically, physical practice triggers a series of physiological changes in the CNS that are regrouped under the term "consolidation" (Stickgold and Walker 2007). These changes can result in between-session improvement or performance stabilization (Walker 2005).