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Koch I, Bock O. The role of environmental contextual cues in sequence learning: evidence from a virtual maze context. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2024; 88:487-498. [PMID: 37597011 PMCID: PMC10857982 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-023-01868-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Studies on sequence learning usually focus on single, isolated stimuli that are presented sequentially. For example, in the serial reaction time (RT) task, stimuli are either presented in a predictable sequence or in a random sequence, and better performance with the predictable sequence is taken as evidence for sequence-specific learning. Yet, little is known about the role of environmental context cues in sequence learning. If the target stimuli are embedded in a meaningful context, would this facilitate learning by providing helpful contextual associations or would it hinder learning by adding distracting stimuli? This question was examined in two studies. A pilot study compared sequence learning in a virtual maze with a horizontal vs. vertical maze context, in which arrow stimuli guide spatial lever movement responses that resulted in a corresponding virtual transport on the screen. The results showed only overall somewhat better performance with the vertical maze compared to the horizontal maze, but general practice effects and sequence-specific learning effects were the same for both contexts. The main study compared sequence learning with a maze context to sequence learning of arrows without a maze context. The results showed significantly better learning with maze context than without context. These data suggest that the maze context facilitated sequence learning by inducing a meaningful spatial representation ("mental map") similar to that formed in wayfinding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iring Koch
- Institute of Psychology, RWTH Aachen University, Jägerstr. 17-19, 52056, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Otmar Bock
- Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln/German Sport University, Cologne, Germany
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Mack M, Stojan R, Bock O, Voelcker-Rehage C. The association of executive functions and physical fitness with cognitive-motor multitasking in a street crossing scenario. Sci Rep 2023; 13:697. [PMID: 36639402 PMCID: PMC9839686 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26438-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related decline in cognitive-motor multitasking performance has been attributed to declines in executive functions and physical fitness (motor coordinative fitness and cardiovascular fitness). It has been suggested that those cognitive and physical resources strongly depend on lifestyle factors such as long-term regular physical activity and cognitive engagement. Although research suggests that there is covariation between components of executive functions and physical fitness, the interdependence between these components for cognitive-motor multitasking performance is not yet clear. The aim of the study was to examine the contribution and interrelationship between executive functions, motor coordinative fitness, and cardiovascular fitness on street crossing while multitasking. We used the more ecologically valid scenario to obtain results that might be directly transferable to daily life situation. Data from 50 healthy older adults (65-75 years, 17 females, recruited in two different cities in Germany) were analyzed. Participants' executive functions (composite score including six tests), motor coordinative fitness (composite score including five tests), and cardiovascular fitness (spiroergometry), as well as their street crossing performance while multitasking were assessed. Street crossing was tested under single-task (crossing a two-line road), and multitask conditions (crossing a two-line road while typing numbers on a keypad as simulation of mobile phone use). Street crossing performance was assessed by use of cognitive outcomes (typing, crossing failures) and motor outcomes (stay time, crossing speed). Linear mixed-effects models showed beneficial main effects of executive functions for typing (p = 0.004) and crossing failures (p = 0.023), and a beneficial main effect of motor coordinative fitness for stay time (p = 0.043). Commonality analysis revealed that the proportion of variance commonly explained by executive functions, motor coordinative fitness, and cardiovascular fitness was small for all street crossing outcomes. For typing and crossing failures (cognitive outcomes), the results further showed a higher relative contribution of executive functions compared to motor coordinative fitness and cardiovascular fitness. For stay time (motor outcome), the results correspondingly revealed a higher relative contribution of motor coordinative fitness compared to executive functions and cardiovascular fitness. The findings suggest that during cognitive-motor multitasking in everyday life, task performance is determined by the components of executive functions and physical fitness related to the specific task demands. Since multitasking in everyday life includes cognitive and motor tasks, it seems to be important to maintain both executive functions and physical fitness for independent living up to old age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Mack
- Department of Neuromotor Behavior and Exercise, Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Münster, Wilhelm-Schickard-Straße 8, 48149, Muenster, Germany
| | - Robert Stojan
- Department of Neuromotor Behavior and Exercise, Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Münster, Wilhelm-Schickard-Straße 8, 48149, Muenster, Germany.,Institute of Human Movement Science and Health, Chemnitz University of Technology, Thueringer Weg 11, 09126, Chemnitz, Germany
| | - Otmar Bock
- Institute of Human Movement Science and Health, Chemnitz University of Technology, Thueringer Weg 11, 09126, Chemnitz, Germany.,Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, German Sport University, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50927, Cologne, Germany
| | - Claudia Voelcker-Rehage
- Department of Neuromotor Behavior and Exercise, Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Münster, Wilhelm-Schickard-Straße 8, 48149, Muenster, Germany. .,Institute of Human Movement Science and Health, Chemnitz University of Technology, Thueringer Weg 11, 09126, Chemnitz, Germany.
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Kim K, Fricke M, Bock O. Eye-Head-Trunk Coordination While Walking and Turning in a Simulated Grocery Shopping Task. J Mot Behav 2020; 53:575-582. [PMID: 32862803 DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2020.1811197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies argued that body turns are executed in an ordered sequence: the eyes turn first, followed by the head and then by the trunk. The purpose of this study was to find out whether this sequence holds even if body turns are not explicitly instructed, but nevertheless are necessary to reach an instructed distal goal. We asked participants to shop for grocery products in a simulated supermarket. To retrieve each product, they had to walk down and aisle, and then turn left or right into a corridor that led towards the target shelf. The need to make a turn was never mentioned by the experimenter, but it nevertheless was required in order to approach the target shelf. Main variables of interest were the delay between eye and head turns towards the target shelf, as well as the delay between head and trunk turns towards the target shelf. We found that both delays were consistently positive, and that their magnitude was near the top of the range reported in literature. We conclude that the ordered sequence of eye - then head - then trunk turns can be observed not only with a proximal, but also with a distal goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyungwan Kim
- Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany
| | - Madeleine Fricke
- Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany
| | - Otmar Bock
- Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany
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