WHO:	BCS Lunch Talk: Volodymyr Ivanchenko , BCS Graduate Student
TOPIC:	A Developmental Approach Aids Motor Learning
ABSTRACT:	I will make an introduction to theory of motor control using an example of an artificial robot arm. The law of motor control even for a simple 3 joint arm is very complex and needs to be learnt. There are number of problems associated with learning a moto r control. One of them is a degree of freedom problem depicted by Bernstein (1967), that is there are too many possible ways (trajectories) in which one may move the arm between starting and ending pointws. The degree of freedom problem happened to be quite general and related to cases when one needs to deal with under-constrained task. In our research we explore how degree of freedom problem can be ameliorated by using developmental approach in learning (similar to "less is more" hypothesis). Early in training we trained an artificial robot arm to perform movement task restraining its movements in certain joints. Later on in training we relaxed this restriction. The results demonstrated that constraining the task at the beginning helps to learn simplified version of control that became a foundation of further more effective learning (as compared to non developmental learning mode).
WHEN:	9/24/2003 12:00:00 PM
WHERE:	Meliora 269

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