Name: Giuliana Farr

Date: 02/03/22

Dr. Hurley

EXS 380: Motor Behavior

Spring Session 2022

Lab Report # 2

Activity 2.2

Definitions for Key Terms and Concepts:

Perceptual-motor integration problem: The ability of different sensory systems to work

together.

Motor Variability: The natural variation in postures, movements and muscle activity observed

to be different extents in all tasks.

Motor Consistency: The performance of the skill becomes more consistent rather than

variability.

Serial Skill: A motor skill that is composed of a number of discrete skills whose integrated

performance is crucial for goal achievement.

Degrees of freedom: Independent elements of movements that must be organized to produce

a controlled movement pattern.

Introduction:
In this lab we tested our dynamic balance 10 times by trying to balance on a wobble disk

while also trying to bend over and pick up a bucket with a weighted ball in it that was on an X

on the floor. We did this 10 times while balancing on each leg trying to see which leg, we

could get the fastest time on while also counting how many times our free leg tapped the

floor or wobble disk. After everyone in our group went, we compared average time and taps

per leg.

Part A:

Procedure:

 Stepped onto the wobble disk with either left or right foot and tried to balance.

 Once we had our balance, we bent over trying to maintain balance and not letting our

free foot hit the ground as we tried to pick up the bucket with a weighted ball inside.

 After we picked up the bucket with the ball, we stood up straight and then brought the

bucket back down to the floor and placed it on the X that was marked.

 We repeated this 10 times with our left leg on the wobble disk and then 10 times with

our right foot on the wobble disk.

Data
Trial Time Time Right leg Left leg
Right leg Left leg balance/left balance/right
balance balance hand pick- hand pick up
(Seconds) (Seconds) up # of left foot
# of left foot touches
touches
1 4.1 3.0 0 0

2 4.8 4.7 0 1
 3 5.5 3.3 0 0

4 5.6 5.7 10 0

5 7.3 5.1 0 1

6 4.8 4.3 1 0

7 7.2 3.9 0 0

8 6.03 3.6 1 0

9 4.8 4.7 0 1

10 5.8 4.6 1 0

Averag 5.592 3.19 .4 .3

e

Part B:

Procedure:

After we collected our data Alex and I compared what we got for our average time on each

leg and how many times each foot tapped either the floor or the side of the wobble disk.

Data

Name Average Average Right leg Left leg

 time (R) time (L) balance/left balance/right
hand pick- hand pick up
up # of left foot
# of left foot touches
touches
Giuliana 5.593 3.19 .4 .3
Alex 9.606 7.363 .2 .3

Questions:

1. This data has some similarities, but it mostly has differences. I think it mostly has

differences because Alex and I are different heights and come from different athletic

backgrounds. Most of the differences came from the average time it took both of us on our

legs. The amount the taps however are either the same of off by .2.

2. I think movement variability can be functional because it allows for us to adapt to the

changes of the circumstances of the task. That could be the environment or even equipment.

3. I think the concept of movement variability relates to this activity because it allows

variations of movements, postures and muscle activities between each time we bend over to

pick up the bucket and ball and then stand back up.

4. It is important to understand how variations in patterns of coordination’s in motor

skills emerge as a function as it interacts with task, environmental and individual constraints

because the constraints have an effect on the pattern of coordination. This can affect the

pattern in either a positive or negative aspect.

Conclusion: The main topic of this lab was consistency. The goal of this activity was to pick up

and set down the bucket in relatively the same time without tapping your free foot. My data

showed that I was more consistent on my left leg which compared to my right by 1.763
seconds. I think this is interesting because I would think my right leg would be better since the

right side of my body is more dominant. This activity helped me have a better understanding of

how the human body can be consistent on one side more than other over a period of 10 times.