Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow Research has established that the learning of motor skills is specific. This applies also to perceptual-motor movement since perception is involved in all voluntary movement except reflex action. Visual perception is very important in motor learning but information can be received through the channels of sound, touch, smell, taste and awareness of body position. In complex motor activity, the senses are used in an integrated manner. In the game of basketball, for instance, players use vision to shoot a basket, sound to hear the referees touch to feel the ball and kinesthetic sense to recognise their body position in relation to other players and the basket. Effective control of the visual system depends on Visual acuity - the ability to see the objects clearly; Perceptual constancy - the ability to determine the difference if any, in size, shape and colour of the object; Depth perception - the ability to have awareness of the distance between objects; visual tracking - the ability to perceive a moving object. Auditory, similar to visual perception consists of subskills and there is Awareness - ability to indicate that there is a sound or not; Discrimination - ability to discriminate between different tones and frequencies of sounds; Direction - the ability to determine the direction from which sound is coming and Figure-ground the ability to distinguish a specific sound from other noises occurring at the same time. In the kinesthetic system instead of using an eye or ear to receive information the kinesthetic system utilizes proprioceptors located in joints. Three skills closely related to kinesthetic perception are Balance the ability of the individual to position the body in response to gravity; Body awareness refers to an understanding of the body in space and laterality - the ability to distinguish between the two sides (left and right) of the body.
Watching a swinging suspended ball is a specific visual perception known as
Visual tracking
Understanding Visual Perception in Motor Skills Learning
The passage discusses the importance of perception, especially visual perception, in the learning of motor skills. It highlights that all voluntary movement involves perception, except for reflex actions. Visual perception is crucial, but information also comes from other senses like sound, touch, smell, taste, and awareness of body position.
In complex motor activities like basketball, multiple senses work together in an integrated manner. For instance, players use vision to aim a shot, hearing for the referee's whistle, touch to feel the ball, and the kinesthetic sense for body positioning.
Subskills of Effective Visual System Control
The passage breaks down effective control of the visual system into several specific subskills. These include:
- Visual acuity: This refers to the ability to see objects clearly. It's about sharpness of vision.
- Perceptual constancy: This is the ability to determine if there is a difference in the size, shape, or colour of an object, despite changes in distance or viewing angle. The object appears constant even if the image on the retina changes.
- Depth perception: This is the ability to be aware of the distance between objects or between oneself and an object. It allows us to judge how far away things are.
- Visual tracking: This is defined as the ability to perceive, or follow with the eyes, a moving object.
Analyzing the Question: Watching a Swinging Ball
The question asks to identify the specific visual perception skill involved in watching a swinging suspended ball. A swinging ball is an object that is in motion.
Based on the definitions provided in the passage:
- Visual acuity is about clarity of vision, not specifically following movement.
- Perceptual constancy is about recognizing an object's properties despite changing viewing conditions, not following movement.
- Depth perception is about judging distance, not following movement.
- Visual tracking is explicitly defined as the ability to perceive a moving object.
Watching a swinging ball directly involves following the movement of an object with your eyes. This aligns perfectly with the definition of visual tracking provided in the passage.
Conclusion on Visual Perception Skill
Therefore, watching a swinging suspended ball is a specific visual perception skill known as visual tracking, as it requires the ability to perceive and follow a moving object. The passage clearly defines this skill.
Revision Table: Key Perceptual Skills
| Sense System | Key Perceptual Skill Example (from passage) |
|---|---|
| Visual System | Visual tracking (perceiving a moving object) |
| Auditory System | Discrimination (between different tones/frequencies) |
| Kinesthetic System | Balance (positioning body in response to gravity) |
Additional Information: Integration of Senses in Motor Learning
The passage emphasizes that in complex motor activities, the senses are used in an integrated manner. This means that while specific skills like visual tracking are important on their own, they work together with other visual skills (like depth perception) and information from other senses (like kinesthetic awareness) to perform actions effectively. For example, catching a swinging ball doesn't just involve tracking its movement; it also requires judging its speed and distance (depth perception) and positioning your body and hands correctly (kinesthetic sense).
Understanding these individual perceptual skills and how they combine is fundamental to learning and improving motor skills.
Important Questions from Miscellaneous
Read the given figure and find the region representing persons who are educated and employed but not confirmed in job.
The magazine in which Mahatma Gandhi mentioned what he wanted the Constitution to do is:
Which gas shields the surface of the earth from ultraviolet radiation from the sun?
Which event is marked as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO?
Who has been conferred with the rank of the Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2018?
