Optimal Variability for Effective Motor Learning

This thesis addresses different manifestations and practical implementations of movement variability in respect to their beneficial effects on movement coordination and learning. The focal point of this topic is formed by the comparison between the contextual interference paradigm and the differential learning approach, representing two variable practice strategies found to improve motor learning performance under certain conditions. The theoretical backgrounds and empirical findings of each approach are thoroughly reviewed in the first part of this work. These theoretical concepts, and their resultant practical training approaches, arrive at the notion of an optimal magnitude and structure of movement variability that should be encouraged during practice. The second part of this work presents a parallelgroup study designed to contrast the effects of a high contextual interference and schema-based practice regime with two variants of differential training on the adoption of two indoor hockey skills in beginners.



Dr. Jürgen Birklbauer works as a Senior Scientist in the field of training and movement sciences at the University of Salzburg. His field of research covers among others motor (re-)learning, variable practice, training aids, sleep and gross-motor adaptation, physical activity and cognitive performance, executive functions, and talent identification.