Customer Reviews

Motor Control And Learning: A Behavioral Emphasis, Fourth Edition

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Franklin Henry is acknowledged as the father of motor behavior research. His work on reaction time, the motor program, and development of the Specificity Hypothesis have spurred an unparalleled amount of research in the field. Building off the work of Henry, Schmidt, who is a direct student of Henry developed the Schema Theory of Motor Learning. Over the past 30 years the theory has generated much research, being referenced in over 700 journal articles, and achieving the `citation classic' award by the Institute for Scientific Information (Lee, 2003).

Schmidt has also founded the Journal of Motor behavior. Therefore no one is more qualified to write a book on Motor Behavior. Further, Richard Lee is just as qualified, publishing extensively in motor behavior and psychology journals. He is also on the cutting edge of Motor program research, constructing his Cognitive Effort Theory of motor learning.

As a second generation student of Henry, I have been fortunate to have studied under and researched with two first generation students of Henry. Including Dr. Ostarello and Dr. Caplain, as well as studied extensively with one of the nations greatest scientists, and a second generation student of Henry, Dr. Sawyer. I have also instructed in College Motor Control Labs.

Through my extreme study of Motor Behavor, including countless journal articles, and an extensive list of Motor Behavior books I can say with assuredy that this is the most proficient, and outstanding book in its class on the market.

What I am especially impressed with, is the detail Schmidt and Lee go into when describing a certain motor phenomenon. For example in the Speed Accuracy Trade off Chapter, they take you from the work of Woodworth (1899) in which he first formally studied the phenomenon, to the work of Fitts. In doing so they painstakingly and accurately describe each study used by these Giants. They then take you to the present and discuss if these scientists theories have continued to recieve support. Of particular interest in that Chapter was work presented by Schmidt on the Linear Speed accuracy trade off.

Current dominant theory on how movements, namely ballistic movements are controled is Henry's (1958) Motor Program Theory origionally called the Memory Drum Theory. Schmidt has carried this research to the more modern Schema Motor Program Theory. As critical as this concept is to Motor Behavior students, it is a priveledge to be able to read directly from the men who devised these theories. This book provides just that.

Whether you are a student, professor, or scientist working in the field, this book should be on your shelf.

I first had to buy this textbook for an undergraduate course in Motor Control, but I have gone back to it many times in my graduate career. It serves as an excellent resource for learning the first time you read it and a veritable mine of resources in subsequent re-readings.

This is the worst college textbook I have ever read. It is dry and difficult to read. P-A-I-N-F-U-L. The frustrating part is that the subject matter is actually quite interesting but the way the book is written would make anyone want to RUN from all topics addressed here. For the writers: Even college intellects want to read interesting subject matter written in an applicable style that helps the reader process what's written. Geez.