Abstract
Previous research suggests that providing KR after a series of successful (i.e., good trials) rather than unsuccessful (i.e., poor trials) trials enhances motor skill acquisition. However, there is a caveat. Performers in these previous investigations were unaware their KR content was based on either their good or poor trials. Based on the role of KR precision during motor skill learning, we expected that being aware of the KR content would prove superior for motor learning compared to being unaware, independent of the content in the KR display (i.e., good or poor trials). For the present experiment, participants were required to propel a slider along a confined linear pathway to a pre-determined spatial goal (133 cm). Participant's vision was occluded before, during and after their motor action. Similar to previous research, participants either received KR based on their three best (KR good) or three worst (KR poor) trials in a 6 trial block, and were either aware (good-aware; poor-aware) or unaware (good-unaware, poor-unaware) of content in their KR display for a total of 4 experimental conditions. The acquisition results revealed no between group differences. However, the retention results showed that indpendent of the KR content, the groups aware of their KR content demonstrated superior learning (indexed by CE and VE measures) to the groups unaware of their KR content. The theoretical and practical importance of KR precision during motor learning will be discussed.
