Research On Bilateral Transfer In The Learning Of Dart Throw

Occurrence and mechanism of bilateral transfer of motor learning has been constantly studied in the field of transfer of learning, and a number of studies on this topic could be found among the top academic publications. However, arguments and controversies about the reason why bilateral transfer happens or how bilateral transfer happens have come along with different models and theories in motor learning from previous studies. It has been well recognized that mechanism of bilateral transfer in motor learning embraces the construction of controlling pattern, the neuromuscular factor and cognitive processing of information. Therefore, from the perspective of behavior science, this research on basis of previous studies is designated to study whether the phenomenon of bilateral transfer occurs in motor learning, whether the asymmetry of bilateral transfer exists in bilateral transfer, and whether different practice paradigms have influence on bilateral transfer by means of a more stringent and comprehensive experimental design and more advanced technology. Mechanism of bilateral transfer was also explored from electrophysiological aspects by measuring event-related brain potentials and surface electromyography during the overarm dart throw in this study. The results are not only of necessity in exploring the controversial issues of bilateral transfer as well as in enriching and developing theories of bilateral transfer, but also of a realistic significance for a scientific array of sport training.The experiment of this research consists of the following three aspects: A. Performance measurements: The learning task is a dart throw for accuracy in this study. Radial Error (RE), Constant Error (CE), Transfer from preferred hand to non-preferred hand (TPN) and Transfer from non-preferred hand to preferred hand (TNP) were employed to assess the effects of bilateral transfer in dart throw. The reason why bilateral transfer occurs, and asymmetry of bilateral transfer and learning effects of different practice paradigms were well discussed by the comparisons of pre-test and post-test learning performance measurements in this study.B. Surface Electromyography (sEMG) Analysis: surface EMG of bicep and forearm upper muscles of throwing arm was recorded while the subject performed a dart throw in the experiment. sEMG, mean EMG and square root EMG were used for the assessment of effects of bilateral transfer in the learning of dart throw.C. Measurement of Event-related Potentials (ERP): ERP from EEG was extracted during the execution of dart throw before and after the programmed learning. The analysis of event-related potentials in this study focused on dynamic changes of contingent negative variation (CNV) and lateralized readiness potentials (LRP) for further argument on mechanism of bilateral transfer.The results and conclusions of this experimental study are:1. Occurrence of bilateral transfer has been validated with performance measurements of dart throw, neuromuscular electrophysiological activities (EMG), and the dynamic changes of CNV and the correct activation patterns of LRP in event-related potentials (ERP). Performance measurement indicates that the performance of dart throw with opposite hand (non-practiced hand) was enhanced while the performance in practiced hand was improved. The changing characteristics of sEMG, RMS of EMG and mEMG show that the electromyographical characteristics of non-practiced hand are similar to those of practiced hand after the learning of dart throw occurred; the peak value of CNV in ERP appeared in an area of forehead, Fz in the pre-test while the peak of CNV presented in central area, Cz, in the post-test. It is indicated that the internal representation of dart throw were formed and the changes of the central controlling patterns took place. The shifting characteristics of CNV peak in EPR could be found in dart throw with both practiced hand and non-practiced hand, which implies that the shifting similar...