Influence of Local Fatigue on Speed and Accuracy in Motor Learning

Abstract Four groups of subjects, each consisting of 30 male college students, were assigned either to the rho motor learning test (speed) or the pursuit rotor motor learning test (accuracy) under either control or experimental conditions. Practice on each task lasted approximately 30 min. and resulted in large amounts of learning. Interpolated severe local physical fatigue was induced by exercising the experimental groups on an arm ergometer halfway through the learning of each task. The experimental groups suffered a 40 percent decrement in performance as a result of the interpolated fatigue, but the amount of learning was not influenced.