BILATERAL TRANSFER

Introduction:
The effect of past learning on new learning is designated as "transfer of training",
According to Hilgard, "The influence that learning one task may have on
subsequent learning or performance of another task is called "Transfer of
training". Transfer of training is one of the most pervasive characteristics of
behavior, for it is this which guarantees the continuity and lawful development of
habits of ever- growing complexity.
The effects of past learning on new learning may be classified in one of the three
categories:
1. Positive Transfer - occurs when past experience facilitates the acquisition of a
new skill or the solution of a new problem.
2. Negative Transfer - occurs when past experience renders more difficult or
slows down the acquisition of a new skill or the solution of a new problem.
3. Cross education - refers to the facilitation of performance with one part of the
body, when practice is given to another part of the body. When cross education is
from one body organ to its symmetrical counterpart, it is called bilateral transfer. It
is usually demonstrated by mirror tracing board. Starch (1910) was the first to
apply mirror drawing method to the study of bilateral transfer. Studies indicate
that bilateral transfer is a form of positive transfer where subjects do better after
training.

Here we study the effect of training the preferred hand on the performance of the
non-preferred hand.
Review of literature
This paper focuses on the bilateral transfer for untrained male youth in football.
This research investigated the transfer of abilities from predominant leg to non-
dominant leg and vice versa in dribbling with the ball, juggling, a passing/shooting
football techniques. 24 male students in 3rd grade that have not ever participated in
a football club as a player. The predominant leg (DL) group utilized their strong
leg/foot in football essential technical activities, while the non-dominant leg (NDL)
group used their non-dominant leg/foot. The findings revealed that there was no
notable change in transfers from the predominant leg group to the non-dominant
leg group or vice versa. For the assessment of pre- and post-tests, efficiency of all
techniques enhanced in both primary and non-dominant groups. The data imply
that for juggling, dribbling, and kicking abilities, transfer of learning techniques
from non-dominant leg to predominant leg could be significantly more productive.
Reference
Bozkurt, S., Çoban, M., & Demircan, U. (2020). The effect of football basic
Technical training using unilateral leg on bilateral leg transfer in male children.
Journal of Physical Education, 31.

Problem: To study bilateral transfer through mirror drawing.

Hypothesis: Training given to one hand has a positive effect on the performance of
the other hand.
Plan:
Give one trial to trace the star pattern with the non-preferred hand, then five trials
with the preferred hand and then again, one trial with the non-preferred hand.
Compare the performance of the non-preferred hand before and after training to the
preferred hand.

Variables:
Independent Variable - Training given to the preferred hand.
Dependent variable Time taken and errors committed in the trials of the non-
preferred hand.
Experimental controls
1. The Subject should not see the star pattern directly while tracing
2. The Subject must avoid touching the edge of the groove as much as possible.
Materials:
1. Mirror tracing board with Reset type impulse counter and built in rectifier.
2. Stop-clock
Procedure:
Place the mirror tracing board in front of the subject.
Series I- Non-preferred hand before training:
The Subject is asked to trace the pattern with the stylus with his/her non preferred
hand, not looking at the star directly but seeing its reflection in the mirror. The
Subject should trace the star without touching the sides. Whenever this happens,
the counter makes a clicking sound indicating an error. Give the signal to start and
start the stopwatch simultaneously. Note the time taken and the errors committed
to trace the pattern using the non-preferred hand.
Training -Give five trials to the subject to trace the star pattern with the preferred
hand. Note the time taken and the errors committed in each trial.
Series II - Non-preferred hand after training:
Following the same procedure, ask the Subject to trace the star pattern with the
non-preferred hand again. Note the time and error scores.
Note: While tracing the star pattern, follow clockwise direction for the right hand
and anti-clockwise direction for the left hand.
Instructions to the subject:
"At the signal 'start', start tracing the pattern with the stylus without touching the
edges, as fast as possible until you reach the starting point. When you touch the
edges, you will hear a sound which is counted as an error. While tracing, do not
look at the star pattern directly, look only at its reflection in the mirror."
Analysis of Results:
1. Compare time and error scores of the non-preferred hand before and after
training.
2. Plot time and error scores on the graph for preferred and non-preferred hands.
3. Compute Mean for the group.
Points for Discussion:
 a) Discuss, with the help of the graph whether Training given to the preferred
hand has improved learning in the non-preferred hand for the subject and for
the group.
b) Compare the learning curve of the Subject and the Group for the preferred
hand.

Discussion

Aim; the aim of the experiment was to study bilateral transfer through mirror
drawing.

Individual discussion

Table 1. Time taken and errors committed by the Subject in each trial of the
preferred hand.
Time taken Errors committed
Name 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
LA 38 40 28 26 32 44 44 26 27 20

Table 2. Time taken and errors committed by the subject with the non-preferred
hand before and after training.
Time taken Errors committed
Name Series Series Diff. Series Series Diff
1 2 II-I 1 2 II-I
I II I II
LA 100 79 -21 65 40 -25

The experiment was conducted on subject LA, an 18 years old female student
studying at st Joseph’s college autonomous.
Looking at table 1, it can be seen that the time taken for series 1 is 100s and the
errors committed for series 1 is 65. In series 2, the time taken is 79s and the errors
committed is 40. Therefore looking at the scores it can be seen that training given
to one hand has had a positive effect on performance of the other hand. The subject
LS proves the hypothesis that is, ‘training given to one hand has a positive effect
on performance of the other hand.
Conclusion
The subject LS proves the hypothesis that is, ‘Training given to one hand has a
positive effect on performance of the other hand’.