<p>This thesis was specifically designed to explore the role of motor information in behavior and learning in the presence and absence of physical and cognitive challenges. The first experiment examined the role of motor information in the maintenance of standing balance. This study found that light touch (motor information) was most useful when visual condition was challenging, eyes closed. Increased benefit of touch in the presence of challenge suggests that motor information may provide similar information as other senses, and act in a compensatory fashion when those senses are challenged. The second study examined the role of motor information, in the form of enactment, in learning a motor communication task. Results from this study support a role for motor information in enriching the learning environment by strengthening memory to reduce rate of forgetting. The third study examined the role of motor information in disease, using motor-centric instruction and guided movements to teach persons with Alzheimer Dementia to bowl using the Nintendo Wii ^TM. The spared motor learning observed in these participants confirms claims in the literature of spared motor function in persons with dementia and strengthens the claim the motor system can provide compensatory information to support challenged cognitive systems. Taken together, these findings add to the current literature supporting motor pathways with information separable form other sensory pathways and spared motor capacity to learn in dementia.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> Children with acquired brain injury (ABI) receive physiotherapy interventions to promote motor skill relearning. Theoretically-driven motor learning strategies (MLS) may support therapists in this goal, but their use with this complex population is unexplored. Virtual reality (VR) games are popular interventions that may influence therapist use of MLS. A valid, reliable method to examine MLS during usual and VR-based interventions is required.</p> <p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To: 1) identify the active ingredients of VR interventions; 2) develop and examine the psychometric properties of an instrument to measure MLS use; and 3) explore physiotherapists’ perspectives on promoting motor learning within usual and VR-based interventions for children with ABI.</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> A scoping review methodology was used to identify the active ingredients of VR interventions. Nineteen experts and clinicians participated in a content validation process to develop an instrument to measure MLS. Inter-rater reliability of the instrument was evaluated within 22 videotaped usual and VR-based physiotherapy sessions with children with ABI. Six therapists participated in qualitative interviews about these interventions.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> The scoping review identified<em> </em>11 active ingredients of VR; 6 related to motor learning theory. The Motor Learning Strategy Rating Instrument (MLSRI) was developed. Inter-rater reliability was high (0.81) for usual interventions but low (0.28) for VR-based interventions. Therapists described the importance of considering intervention goals and child characteristics when promoting motor learning; VR was viewed as a complex, motivating intervention that influenced their use of verbal strategies.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> A motor learning theoretical framework may be relevant to clinicians and researchers using VR in pediatric rehabilitation. Qualitative findings enhance understanding of how therapists promote motor learning in usual and VR-based physiotherapy interventions for children withABI. The use of MLS can be measured reliably within usual interventions, but further instrument refinements are required to rate MLS use within VR-based physiotherapy for children with ABI.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Walking dysfunction is one of the most disabling and persistent of stroke-related sequela. Theory- and research-derived motor learning principles (MLPs) offer an ideal theoretical framework for the development and evaluation of walking-skill focused interventions.</p> <p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To: 1) appraise the degree of adherence to motor learning principles (MLPs) in current post-stroke walking-skill training research; 2) describe the Motor Learning Walking Program (MLWP), a novel, MLPs-framed walking training program; and 3) compare the MLWP to an alternate theory-framed walking-focused intervention in community-dwelling individuals within one year of stroke.</p> <p><strong>Methods: </strong>A scoping review methodology was used to identify the prevalent theoretical frameworks in current post-stroke walking training literature, and to appraise the adherence to selected MLPs in walking-focused interventions. A randomized controlled trial (n=71) was conducted to compare the MLWP to a body-weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) intervention.</p> <p><strong>Results: </strong>In the scoping review of 27 walking-focused studies, a minority of investigators explicitly stated a theoretical-framework. Application of MLPs was inconsistent across interventions. In the randomized controlled trial, both intervention groups improved walking function after 5 weeks of training however, there were no significant between-group differences in the primary and secondary outcomes.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> To date, there has been limited integration of MLPs into post-stroke walking-skill training literature. This randomized controlled trial is unique in its comparison of two theoretically divergent, yet equally intense, walking-training interventions. While the results were equivocal, future research should continue to explore the impact of application of MLPs on walking-skill recovery after stroke.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a pediatric motor-speech disorder which has been controversial due to its difficulty to diagnose and little progress in treatment. The purpose of the present study was to examine a principle of motor learning (PML) within the context of an evidence-based treatment for this disorder, as a way to improve outcomes for children with CAS. In particular, this study examines the role of intensity, specifically, massed versus distributed practice, when treating CAS using a modified form of Dynamic Temporal Tactile Cueing (DTTC; Strand et al., 2006). Two participants with CAS between the ages of 5 and 11 received massed and distributed practice on individualized targets in an single-case alternating treatments design with multiple baselines. Accuracy of speech targets on probe tasks was judged by blinded listeners. Results were interpreted through inspection of graphs and calculation of effect sizes. The results of the study showed that massed practice had a marginal benefit over distributed practice. Implications from this study suggest the importance of continued research examining the role of PML in CAS treatment and the value of using a massed-treatment approach when treating CAS. / Communication Sciences

No description available.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the impact of an individualized motor activity program on the level of motor development, perceptual-motor development, physical fitness, self-concept, and academic achievement of learning disabled elementary school children. The participants for this investigation were learning disabled children (N=37), CAs 7 to 12 years, with a mean IQ of 98. They were all drawn from self-contained learning disabled classes in three elementary schools. A three factorial design, treatment (E/C) X age (younger/older) X test (pre/post), with repeated measures on the third factor was used to examine the effects of the intervening treatment on all dependent variables. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) statistical analysis technique was used to analyze the total effect of the program on the learning disabled children. The instruments used for pre and posttesting were: (1) Project ACTIVE Motor Ability Test, Level III; (2) Project ACTIVE Physical Fitness Test, Level III; (3) Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale; (4) Thomas' Teacher Rating Scale; and (5) Shape-O Ball Test. The control group participated in a 30 minute traditional physical education program each day for 5 days per week during the 18 weeks of the study. For 5 days per week during the 18 weeks of the study, the experimental group received an individualized motor activity program based on the needs of each individual student. At the completion of the intervention program, the parents and teachers of the children involved in the experimental group were interviewed concerning their views of the impact of the program on the children. When all 12 variables were assessed simultaneously, the MANOVA indicated that there were significant multivariate main effects for age, treatment, and test (p< .05), as well as treatment X test and treatment X age interaction effects (p<.05). The post hoc procedures indicated significant (p <.05) treatment X test interaction which favored the experimental group on all the physical fitness, motor ability, and perceptual-motor variables. Significant treatment X age interaction effect (p <.05) was found on balance, eye-hand coordination, and sit-ups. The results of the teacher and parent interviews demonstrated that they felt that overall the individualized program was very beneficial to those children who participated. It was concluded: (1) the level of physical fitness, motor ability, and perceptual-motor development can be enhanced through participation in an individualized motor activity program; (2) it appears that the global self-concept and academic achievement of learning disabled children cannot be significantly improved through an individualized motor activity program; and (3) the learning disabled child's self confidence as it relates to physical activities as well as social-emotional growth can be enhanced through participation in an individualized motor activity program. / Ed. D.

In this work, we develop models of neural circuits and plasticity rules that underlie different forms of learning and memory, with a focus on learning processes that involve multiple brain regions. We begin by surveying the literature on synaptic plasticity rules and implementations of learning algorithms in the brain. Each subsequent chapter presents a model of how a specific aspect of learning is implemented biologically, based on experimental evidence and normative considerations. We first focus on the neural basis of reinforcement learning in the basal ganglia. We show that in order to enable effective learning when control of behavior is distributed across multiple regions (``off-policy reinforcement learning''), classic models of dopamine activity must be adapted to include an additional action-sensitive component. We also show that the known plasticity rules of direct and indirect-pathway striatal projection neurons are inconsistent with existing models of striatal codes for action. We propose and find experimental support for a new model of striatal activity driven by efferent input. This model is functionally compatible with striatal plasticity rules and enables simultaneous multiplexing of action-selection and learning signals, a necessary ingredient for off-policy reinforcement learning. We next use an off-policy reinforcement learning model to explain a new experimental finding about the conditions under which learned motor skills are consolidated to be driven by the dorsolateral striatum in rats. We then shift our focus to consider consolidation more broadly, proposing a general model of the advantages of systems in which memories and learned behaviors are consolidated from short-term to long-term learning pathways. In particular, our model proposes that such architectures enable selective filtering of the set of experiences used for learning, which can be essential in noisy environments with many extraneous stimuli. In the appendices, we explore other factors relevant to learning algorithms, including the interaction between multiple sensory modalities, and the problem of credit assignment in multi-layer neural networks. In summary, this work presents a varied set of models of different forms of learning in the brain, emphasizing the cooperative role of plasticity rules and multi-regional circuit architecture in producing functionally useful synaptic weight updates.

Thesis (M. Tech.) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2009 / Children with Learning Problems (LP) are mostly identified in the primary grades. Early intervention is desirable to remediate LP. One strategy is to use visual aids as a cue during an intervention strategy. A visual aid can be tactile and can appeal to the child’s senses, such as hearing and touch. Three main cornerstones which influence Sensory Product Development (SPD) were identified. These are design factors such as illustrations, colour, and book themes, the senses of the children and supporting factors which include therapeutic practices and cultural sensitivity. It is envisaged that if these three cornerstones are integrated into a sensory product such as a book, that it will be able to stimulate a child with LP through play, touch and sound. The aim of the study is the development of a qualitative tool that can be used to asses sensory products and the development of a sensory product that are tested for the specific target group. The sensory product was designed according to the guidelines that were identified in a literature review. This qualitative tool includes the various cornerstones and serves as a checklist that teachers and therapists can use to evaluate a sensory product to establish its suitability for a child with LP. The second article in this study recorded the responses from children with LP towards the sensory product and recommendations for the improvement of the sensory product.

Thesis (M Sport Sc (Sport Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The influence of a six-week perceptual-motor and attentional skills programme, combined with teaching strategies, on the motor proficiency and attentional abilities of children diagnosed with ADHD was investigated. The five case study individuals (ranging for Grade 1- 7) took part in a six-week Purposeful Play Programme. Baseline, pre-test and post-test scores were obtained from the Bruininks- Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Test (ADHDT). All five case study individuals showed a significant improvement on their motor proficiency during retention tests as well as improvements on some of the behavioural soft signs of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. / AFRIKAANDE OPSOMMING: Die invloed van ʼn sesweek perseptueel-motoriese en aandagvaardigheidsprogram, gekombineer met onderrigstrategieë, is op die motoriese vaardighede en aandagvermoëns van kinders gediagnoseer met ATHS, bestudeer. Die vyf gevallestudie individue (tussen Graad 1- 7) het aan „n sesweek Purposeful Play Programme deelgeneem. Die basislyn-, voor- en natoetstellings is verkry vanaf die Bruininks- Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) en Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Test (ADHDT). Al vyf gevallestudie individue het ʼn beduidende verbetering in motoriese vaardigheid getoon tydens retensietoetse asook verbetering in sommige van die gedragstekens van hiperaktiwiteit, impulsiwiteit en afleibaarheid.

Thesis (M Sport Sc)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Many children experience developmental problems without being aware thereof. In a school setting these developmental delays mostly remain unnoticed and are scarcely remediated sufficiently, if at all. Children with developmental deficits often experience movement difficulties and are labelled as clumsy, sloppy or having two left feet. The development of, and proficiency in specific motor skills have been found to play a critical role in the participation of physical activity in children, as well as the maintenance of health and well-being later in life, when entering adulthood. There are, however, countless other factors that affect the optimal development of motor skills and physical activity participation. One such factor is ascribed to instances where children experience problems associated with their environment or the circumstances in which they grow up. Poor socio-economic circumstances and a culturally poor environment, lacking sufficient developmental opportunities, may hinder a child‟s motor skills development and skill learning to such an extent that they cannot reach their full developmental potential. Research suggests that the school environment can provide ample opportunity for the development of motor skills and that all schools should consider implementing motor skills development programmes during the Physical Education (PE) time slots. The mastery of motor skills may influence and benefit the participation in various school sports and may also enhance the ability of children to learn and master new and more complex movement skills within and outside the classroom environment. Thus, due to the fact that children spend a great part of their day at school and in the classroom setting, teachers, especially those facilitating PE, have the opportunity to play a vital role in the acquisition and mastery of important motor skills and subsequently affect the physical activity and developmental future of children. The purpose of this study was to design and implement a motor skills development programme to improve the balance and bilateral coordination of children between the ages of 10 and 12 years in the Stellenbosch region. Two existing classes, from a previously disadvantaged school, were recruited and randomly selected as an experimental (n=35) and control group (n=32). The children completed the Short Form as well as all the Long Form activities for the balance and bilateral coordination subtests of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2 (BOT-2). This was done to provide an overview of the overall motor proficiency and more specifically the level of balance and bilateral coordination. A 12-week motor skills development programme, with a specific focus on balance and bilateral coordination, was designed and implemented by the researcher. The effect of this programme was determined by statistically analysing and comparing the pre- and post-test results with the use of Statistica 2010. The main findings of this study indicated that the intervention programme had a positive, although not statistically significant, effect on the overall motor proficiency and balance and significantly improved bilateral coordination. This study suggests that some of the children, between the ages of 10 and 12, from a previously disadvantaged school in the Stellenbosch region and with access to an established school PE programme, experienced movement difficulties. Consequently, there is great room for improvement and motor skill development in these children. This study can, therefore, be a stepping stone into future research regarding further motor skills research in primary school children, the implementation of expanded motor skills intervention programmes and to improve all the motor skills as opposed to selected motor skills as in this study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ontwikkelingsprobleme word, sonder dat ʼn mens daarvan bewus is, deur vele kinders ervaar. In die skool-omgewing bly hierdie ontwikkelingsagterstande meestal ongesiens en word min kinders, indien enige, voldoende geremedieer. Kinders met ontwikkelingsagterstande ervaar gereeld bewegingsprobleme en word as lomp, slordig of as iemand met twee linkervoete beskryf. Daar word beweer dat die ontwikkeling van, en vaardigheid in, spesifieke motoriese vaardighede van kinders ʼn kritieke rol in hul deelname aan fisieke aktiwiteit, asook die onderhoud van gesondheid en welstand tydens volwassenheid, speel. Daar is egter talle ander faktore wat die optimale motoriese ontwikkeling en fisieke aktiwiteit deelname van kinders kan beïnvloed. ʼn Voorbeeld van so ʼn faktor word toegeskryf aan gevalle waar kinders probleme, wat met hulle omgewing of die omstandighede waarin hul grootword geassosieer word, ervaar. Swak sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede en ʼn kultureel-arme omgewing, wat tekort skiet aan voldoende ontwikkelingsgeleenthede, mag die motoriese ontwikkeling en die aanleer van nuwe vaardighede tot so ʼn mate inhibeer dat kinders nie in staat is om hulle volle ontwikkelingspotensiaal te bereik nie. Navorsing dui daarop dat die skoolomgewing vele geleenthede vir die ontwikkeling van motoriese vaardighede kan bied en dat daar onderneem moet word om motoriese vaardigheid-ontwikkelingsprogramme tydens Liggaamlike Opvoeding (LO) periodes te implementeer. Die bemeestering van motoriese vaardighede mag die deelname aan verskeie skoolsporte beïnvloed en bevoordeel, asook die vermoë om nuwe en meer komplekse bewegingsvaardighede binne en buite die klasomgewing aan te leer en te bemeester, bevorder. Dus, aangesien kinders ʼn groot gedeelte van hul dag by die skool en in ʼn klasomgewing deurbring, het onderwysers, veral die wat LO fasiliteer, die geleentheid om ʼn noodsaaklike rol in die aanleer en bemeestering van belangrike motoriese vaardighede, en vervolgens fisieke aktiwiteit, asook die toekomstige ontwikkeling van kinders te beïnvloed. Die doel van hierdie studie was om ʼn motoriese vaardigheid-ontwikkelingsprogram, wat balans en bilaterale koördinasie bevorder, vir 10 tot 12-jarige kinders in die Stellenbosch omgewing te ontwerp en implementeer. Twee bestaande klasse vanuit ʼn voorheenbenadeelde skool was gewerf en lukraak verkies as ʼn eksperimentele- (n=35) en kontrolegroep (n=32). Kinders het die kort vorm- asook al die lang vorm-aktiwiteite vir balans en bilaterale koördinasie sub-toetse van die Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2 (BOT-2) voltooi. Hierdie toetse is afgelê om ʼn oorsig van die algehele motoriese vaardigheidsvlak, en meer spesifiek die vlak van balans en bilaterale koördinasie, te bepaal. ʼn 12-week motoriese vaardigheid-ontwikkelingsprogram, met ʼn spesifieke fokus op balans en bilaterale koördinasie, is deur die navorser ontwerp en geïmplementeer. Die effek van hierdie program is bepaal deur die pre- en post-toets resultate met behulp van Statistica 2010 statisties te analiseer en vergelyk. Die primêre bevindinge van hierdie studie dui daarop dat die intervensieprogram ʼn positiewe, alhoewel nie statisties beduidende, effek op die bevordering van algehele motoriese vaardigheidsvlak en balans, asook ʼn statisties beduidende effek op bilaterale koördinasie gehad het. Hierdie studie dui daarop dat kinders, tussen die ouderdomme van 10 en 12, vanuit ʼn voorheenbenadeelde skool in die Stellenbosch omgewing en wat toegang tot ʼn gevestigde LO program het, steeds bewegingsprobleme ervaar. Dus, is daar groot ruimte vir die verbetering en ontwikkeling van motoriese vaardighede by hierdie kinders. Hierdie studie kan dus as ʼn beginpunt vir toekomstige navorsing in verdere motoriese vaardigheids-navorsing van laerskool kinders, die implementering van uitgebreide motoriese intervensieprogramme, asook die bevordering van alle motoriese vaardighede in vergelyking met geselekteerde motoriese vaardighede soos in die huidige studie dien.