Cognitive & motor skill transfer across speeds: A video game study

We examined the detailed behavioral characteristics of transfer of skill and the ability of the adaptive control of thought rational (ACT-R) architecture to account for this with its new Controller module. We employed a simple action video game called Auto Orbit and investigated the control tuning o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2021-10, Vol.16 (10), p.e0258242-e0258242
Main Authors: Gianferrara, Pierre Giovanni, Betts, Shawn, Anderson, John Robert
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptive control
Adult
Algorithms
Balloons
Biology and Life Sciences
Cognition & reasoning
Cognition - physiology
Cognitive ability
Computer & video games
Engineering and Technology
Experimental psychology
Female
Humans
Individuality
Linear Models
Male
Methods
Motor skill
Motor Skills - physiology
Perceptual-motor learning
Perturbation
Physical Sciences
Physiological aspects
Problem solving
Psychological aspects
Research and Analysis Methods
Skills
Social Sciences
Text editing
Video Games
Young Adult
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Summary:We examined the detailed behavioral characteristics of transfer of skill and the ability of the adaptive control of thought rational (ACT-R) architecture to account for this with its new Controller module. We employed a simple action video game called Auto Orbit and investigated the control tuning of timing skills across speed perturbations of the environment. In Auto Orbit, players needed to learn to alternate turn and shot actions to blow and burst balloons under time constraints imposed by balloon resets and deflations. Cognitive and motor skill transfer was assessed both in terms of game performance and in terms of the details of their motor actions. We found that skill transfer across speeds necessitated the recalibration of action timing skills. In addition, we found that acquiring skill in Auto Orbit involved a progressive decrease in variability of behavior. Finally, we found that players with higher skill levels tended to be less variable in terms of action chunking and action timing. These findings further shed light on the complex cognitive and motor mechanisms of skill transfer across speeds in complex task environments.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0258242