Motor Control and Learning
Fall Semester 2025
This course examines the behavioural and psychological principles of motor control and motor learning for understanding motor skill acquisition.
Instructor: Mike Carter (cartem11@mcmaster.ca)
Teaching assistants: Mikayla Lalli, Jiaqiao (Jack) Tang, Nour Al Afif, and Michael Croteau
Course schedule
| Week | Date | Lecture topic | Read, watch, listen | Lab topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 02 | Course welcome | π Schmidt et al. (2019) | |
| Sep 03 | Studying motor skills | |||
| 2 | Sep 09 | Decision-making I: Hickβs Law | Error scores | |
| Sep 10 | Decision-making II: Compatibility | |||
| 3 | Sep 16 | Attention and performance | π§ Perception-Action Podcast - Dr. Beilock | |
| Sep 17 | Sensory contributions I: Proprioception | |||
| 4 | Sep 23 | Sensory contributions II: Vision | π» Two visual systems - Dr. Goodale | Attention |
| Sep 24 | Motor programs | |||
| 5 | Sep 30 | National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | ||
| Oct 01 | Neurophysiology (Asynchronous - Mike away) | π Magill & Anderson (2024) | ||
| 6 | Oct 07 | Speed and accuracy | Sensory contributions | |
| Oct 08 | Coordination | |||
| 7 | Oct 14 | MIDTERM RECESS | ||
| Oct 15 | ENJOY YOUR BREAK | |||
| 8 | Oct 21 | Fundamentals of motor skill learning | π Lee & Schmidt (2025) | Fittsβ Law |
| Oct 22 | In-class project work session | |||
| 9 | Oct 28 | Skill acquisition, retention, and transfer | ||
| Oct 29 | In-class project work session | |||
| 10 | Nov 04 | Instructions I (Guest lecture - Jack Tang) | π§ Perception-Action Podcast - Dr. Ste-Marie | |
| Nov 05 | Instructions II | |||
| 11 | Nov 11 | Organizing practice I (Guest lecture - Nour Al Afif) | Presentations | |
| Nov 12 | Organizing practice II | π Lin et al. (2008) | ||
| 12 | Nov 18 | Augmented feedback I (Guest lecture - Mikayla Lalli) | π Guadagnoli et al. (2002) | Presentations |
| Nov 19 | Augmented feedback II | |||
| 13 | Nov 25 | Motor learning metascience | ||
| Nov 26 | Exam review | |||
| 14 | Dec 02 | TBD - Guest speakers or Motor@Mac | ||
| Dec 03 | Open exam review |