Task integration and anticipation in complex, continuous motor tasks

Multitasking and sequential motor learning research has advanced greatly in recent years, yet commonly accepted insights are largely based on simple, distinct tasks which cannot accurately reflect the variety of more complex and continuous tasks we encounter in everyday life. This study therefore ai...

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Main Authors: Patrick Beißel, Stefan Künzell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1557618/full
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author Patrick Beißel
Stefan Künzell
author_facet Patrick Beißel
Stefan Künzell
author_sort Patrick Beißel
collection DOAJ
description Multitasking and sequential motor learning research has advanced greatly in recent years, yet commonly accepted insights are largely based on simple, distinct tasks which cannot accurately reflect the variety of more complex and continuous tasks we encounter in everyday life. This study therefore aims to reassess the influence of task integration on motor sequence learning in complex, continuous tasks through the use of a virtual reality environment and an adapted SRT dual task suited for continuous movements. In our experiment, participants performed a complex, bimanual motor sequence task with varying degrees of suitability for task integration. We could successfully show that task integration has beneficial effects on complex task acquisition if covariations between tasks are consistent and detrimental effects if covariations are too inconsitent or missing. Minor inconsistencies within a repeated sequence can however be mitigated. These results highlight the distinct influence of task integration on complex, continuous motor learning, yet emphasize the need for further research beyond distinct, simple tasks.
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spelling doaj-art-a04e9e68b30a47a49a6cc5173fe8098b2025-08-20T02:34:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-06-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15576181557618Task integration and anticipation in complex, continuous motor tasksPatrick BeißelStefan KünzellMultitasking and sequential motor learning research has advanced greatly in recent years, yet commonly accepted insights are largely based on simple, distinct tasks which cannot accurately reflect the variety of more complex and continuous tasks we encounter in everyday life. This study therefore aims to reassess the influence of task integration on motor sequence learning in complex, continuous tasks through the use of a virtual reality environment and an adapted SRT dual task suited for continuous movements. In our experiment, participants performed a complex, bimanual motor sequence task with varying degrees of suitability for task integration. We could successfully show that task integration has beneficial effects on complex task acquisition if covariations between tasks are consistent and detrimental effects if covariations are too inconsitent or missing. Minor inconsistencies within a repeated sequence can however be mitigated. These results highlight the distinct influence of task integration on complex, continuous motor learning, yet emphasize the need for further research beyond distinct, simple tasks.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1557618/fulltask integrationsequence learningSRT taskanticipationcomplex motor taskimplicit motor learning
spellingShingle Patrick Beißel
Stefan Künzell
Task integration and anticipation in complex, continuous motor tasks
Frontiers in Psychology
task integration
sequence learning
SRT task
anticipation
complex motor task
implicit motor learning
title Task integration and anticipation in complex, continuous motor tasks
title_full Task integration and anticipation in complex, continuous motor tasks
title_fullStr Task integration and anticipation in complex, continuous motor tasks
title_full_unstemmed Task integration and anticipation in complex, continuous motor tasks
title_short Task integration and anticipation in complex, continuous motor tasks
title_sort task integration and anticipation in complex continuous motor tasks
topic task integration
sequence learning
SRT task
anticipation
complex motor task
implicit motor learning
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1557618/full
work_keys_str_mv AT patrickbeißel taskintegrationandanticipationincomplexcontinuousmotortasks
AT stefankunzell taskintegrationandanticipationincomplexcontinuousmotortasks