STUDY OF THE ENERGY CORRELATES IN THE LEARNING OF A COMPLEX SELF-PACED CYCLICAL SKILL

This study examines changes in movement parameters and energy expense during the learning of a cyclical task performed on a ''ski simulator''. Five subjects performed five training sessions (each of four 4-minute learning periods separated by a 4-minute rest) and then took a post-test one week later. The instructions were to make movements which were ''as wide and frequent as possible''. The subjects were filmed on videotape and their oxygen intake was measured. Movement amplitude, movement frequency, oxygen intake, and a ''movement cost'' index were calculated. The results indicated a significant increase in movement amplitude and oxygen intake and a decrease in movement cost. The movement frequency of all subjects tended towards the same final value. Two simultaneous changes could occur, with large individual differences: an increase in energy expense due to the increase in the amount of work done, a decrease in energy expense due to the increase in movement economy.