Analyse how the central nervous system adapts to improve performance during the various stages of learning a complex skill such as an Olympic weightlifting movement. (8 marks)
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Overview Statement
- The CNS undergoes progressive changes as learners advance from cognitive to automatic stages of skill acquisition.
- These neural transformations work together to alter conscious, effortful movements into smooth, automatic performance.
Component Relationship 1: Conscious Control to Automation
- The prefrontal cortex initially dominates processing as beginners think through each movement component.
- High conscious demands result in learners mentally processing grip width, foot position and lifting sequence separately.
- As practice continues, the basal ganglia develops automated motor programs that enable movement execution without conscious thought.
- Elite lifters focus on explosive power because technique runs automatically.
- This shift reveals how thinking parts of the brain gradually hand over control to automatic movement centres.
Component Relationship 2: Neural Efficiency and Structural Changes
- Neural pathways strengthen through repeated practice, with myelination increasing signal speed between connections.
- The snatch movement becomes smoother as pathways between motor regions strengthen.
- Meanwhile, the cerebellum refines movement timing by comparing intended movements with actual performance.
- Bar path becomes consistent through cerebellar error correction.
- Additionally, overall neural activation decreases for the same movement, demonstrating increased efficiency.
- Brain scans show less activation in skilled lifters compared to beginners.
Implications and Synthesis
- These adaptations work together to create skilled performance.
- Structural changes combine with functional shifts to produce neural efficiency.
- Therefore, complex skill learning depends on multiple CNS adaptations occurring simultaneously, transforming high-effort conscious control into efficient automatic execution.
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Sample Answer
Overview Statement
- The CNS undergoes progressive changes as learners advance from cognitive to automatic stages of skill acquisition.
- These neural transformations work together to alter conscious, effortful movements into smooth, automatic performance.
Component Relationship 1: Conscious Control to Automation
- The prefrontal cortex initially dominates processing as beginners think through each movement component.
- High conscious demands result in learners mentally processing grip width, foot position and lifting sequence separately.
- As practice continues, the basal ganglia develops automated motor programs that enable movement execution without conscious thought.
- Elite lifters focus on explosive power because technique runs automatically.
- This shift reveals how thinking parts of the brain gradually hand over control to automatic movement centres.
Component Relationship 2: Neural Efficiency and Structural Changes
- Neural pathways strengthen through repeated practice, with myelination increasing signal speed between connections.
- The snatch movement becomes smoother as pathways between motor regions strengthen.
- Meanwhile, the cerebellum refines movement timing by comparing intended movements with actual performance.
- Bar path becomes consistent through cerebellar error correction.
- Additionally, overall neural activation decreases for the same movement, demonstrating increased efficiency.
- Brain scans show less activation in skilled lifters compared to beginners.
Implications and Synthesis
- These adaptations work together to create skilled performance.
- Structural changes combine with functional shifts to produce neural efficiency.
- Therefore, complex skill learning depends on multiple CNS adaptations occurring simultaneously, transforming high-effort conscious control into efficient automatic execution.