Evolution of Phase Transition Point Phenomena in Novice Participants over a Period of Practice: A Dynamical Systems Perspective

Wan Zakariah Wan Rizal

A-0014

Learning of skilled behavior Evolution of Phase Transition Point Phenomena in Novice Participants over a Period of Practice: A Dynamical Systems Perspective Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah (1), Jia Yi Chow (1), Robert Rein (2) (1) National Institute of Education-Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; (2) German Sport University, Cologne, Germany.

Over the years, studies on human movement coordination have been adopting cyclical movement models as the preferred choice over discrete movement models. This has resulted in a contrast in the volume of studies between the two models. Suggestively, less is known about the theoretical implications for discrete actions. From a dynamical systems perspective, self-organization is a key tenet in understanding human movement and is best examined via features at the phase transition point namely hysteresis and critical slowing down. The aim of this study is to examine hysteresis and critical slowing down through the investigation of movement patterns over a period of practice. Skilled (n=5) and novice participants (n=5) were required to return balls delivered in a scaling manner by a feeding machine to 9 locations back to a target. Novice participants undergo additional 12 sessions of practice over 4 weeks as well as a post- and retention test (2 weeks after post-test). 3D kinematic data of the upper body was captured and digitised and results were obtained using the cluster analysis approach. A six point nominal scale was used to record performance. Results Post-hoc scores reveal significant differences in performance between skilled and novice at pre-test and practice sessions. Cluster analysis resulted in a total of 16 clusters. Kinematic data show clear differences between movement clusters; notably between cluster 2 (CL2) and the rest with respect to upper body rotation (z), elbow, wrist and bat flexion (x). CL2 was adopted by both skilled and novice participants whereas CL1 was adopted only by the skilled participants. Skilled participants displayed a 2 cluster solution as compared to the novice participants who adopted 9, 5 and 6 clusters at pre-, post- and retention tests respectively. 12 different clusters were observed in the practice sessions. Hysteresis region was limited to one location for skilled whereas hysteresis region for novices were wider at pre (4 locations), post (3) and retention (4) tests. In the practice sessions hysteresis region covered 6 locations. Critical slowing down for skilled participants was 0.88 as compared to the novice participants at pre- (1.62), post- (1) and retention (1.26) tests. Discussion The variety of movement patterns adopted by novice participants during the practice sessions and

POSTER OR ORAL (only a few abstracts may be selected for oral presentation, 2015-03-16 see call for 08:38:05 abstracts)

Wan Zakariah Wan Rizal

A-0014

the subsequent reduction of movement cluster from pre- to post- and retentions tests indicates the participants’ exploration for the most suitable task solution and infers the presense of meta-stability and degeneracy expected from a discrete multi-articular action. Results for hysteresis and critical slowing down indicate that both phenomena may be a function of skill levels therefore it may be an indicator of skill proficiency and may be used as a tool to dichotomise skill levels.

POSTER OR ORAL (only a few abstracts may be selected for oral presentation, 2015-03-16 see call for 08:38:05 abstracts)