Differential Learning (DL) Resources – The Perception & Action Podcast

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2024-10-22 19:00:07

Overview: “Schöllhorn (1999) suggested a learning theory that opposes the repetition of movement based on an ideal movement pattern: differential learning. Differential learning utilizes the fluctuations in human motor behaviour to induce a self organising process to the learner that takes advantage of individual movement and learning characteristics. Therefore, during the acquisition phase, the learner is confronted with a variety of exercises that extend the whole range of possible solutions for a specific task. Fluctuations are considered as necessary for functional adaptation to changing environmental contexts and can also be considered as noise in a system. Counter intuitively, this noise can enhance performance due to a phenomenon called stochastic resonance. In this phenomenon, the addition of noise can make a weak signal detectable. There is an ideal level of added noise to the signal. Too much, or too little noise results in a weaker enhancement of the signal” (Savelsbergh et al., 2010).

1) Using a DL approach does not involve trying to identify key task constraints and guide learning by manipulating them, instead it attempts to de-stabilize the existing movement solution by altering the individual (organism) fluctuations to encourage self-organization to a new, more effective solution. This is achieved by amplifying the natural fluctuations in the system (i.e. the inherent variability in athlete) through the addition of stochastic (random) perturbations in the practice environment. This allows the athlete to take full advantage of their own individual characteristics.