The Perception & Action Podcast 18E –Sports Science Shorts: Schema Theory, the Motor Program & Contributions of Richard Schmidt
Jan 18, 2016
Delve into the world of schema theory and motor learning, exploring the pivotal contributions of Richard Schmidt. Discover the evolution of his theories and the debates they sparked among researchers. Learn how these concepts apply to real-world scenarios, like enhancing performance in sports and even driving safety. Uncover the fascinating interplay between motor control, anticipation, and sensory feedback, particularly in skills like baseball hitting. This engaging discussion sets the stage for future innovations in the field.
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Schmidt's Gymnastics Inspired Science
- Richard Schmidt's interest in sports science came from his own gymnastics experience.
- He was fascinated by how his body seemed to remember movements automatically.
Limits of Original Motor Program
- The original motor program concept implied exact muscle commands for each action, causing storage and flexibility issues.
- This concept also excluded sensory feedback, which limits adaptability during movement.
Generalized Motor Program Concept
- Schmidt applied schema theory to motor control, creating the Generalized Motor Program (GMP) to reduce storage and increase flexibility.
- GMP uses abstract action classes with parameters instead of exact muscle commands.
