ABSTRACT
The dynamical perspective of motor learning emphasizes reciprocal influence between the pre-existing coordination modes (those naturally preferred) and the learning process. The theory predicts that learning a new coordination mode will destabilize pre-existing modes. This chapter examines the consequences of learning a new coordination mode on coordination dynamics in stance. It evaluates ankle-hip coordination dynamics in two complementary tasks, before and after participants learned a relative phase of 90°. Participants tried to maintain a constant distance between their head and the target. Three trials of 8 oscillations were performed for each required pattern, with an imposed frequency of 0.2 Hz. Participants received real-time visual feedback about their performance through a Lissajous figure showing the required relative phase and the actual movements performed. The practice of any ankle-hip pattern could have led to the progress and homogenization of performance for any phase relation.
