The Effect of Intrinsic Visual Feedback on Mental Representation Structure and Motor Skill Learning

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

1 Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

2 Department of Sport Science, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Shiraz< Shiraz, Iran

10.22091/frs.2026.14617.1130

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Intrinsic visual feedback is considered essential for motor learning, yet its specific influence on the structure of mental representations of action remains unclear. Grounded in the cognitive architecture approach of action, this study investigated the effect of visual intrinsic feedback availability during practice on both motor performance and the functional organization of mental representations during acquisition and retention of a golf putting task.
Methods: Twenty right-handed novice students (age 23.6 ± 3.6 years) with no prior golf experience were randomly assigned to two groups: (1) intrinsic visual feedback group (n=10) who could see the ball trajectory and outcome during practice, and (2) no-visual-feedback group (n=10) whose vision was occluded immediately after ball–club contact using crystal glasses. Participants performed 150 practice trials (10 blocks × 15 trials) and were tested in pre-test, acquisition, and 24-hour retention phases. Putting accuracy (radial error in cm) and mental representation structure were assessed.
Results: The visual feedback group exhibited significantly lower error during acquisition and retention (p < .001) compared to the no-feedback group. Both groups developed more structured mental representations after practice, but the visual feedback group showed functionally meaningful clustering and significantly higher similarity to the expert structure.
Conclusion: Availability of intrinsic visual feedback during practice is crucial not only for performance improvement but also for developing a functionally well-organized mental representation of the movement. These findings strongly support the cognitive architecture approach of action.

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History

  • Receive Date: 22 November 2025
  • Revise Date: 30 December 2025
  • Accept Date: 19 April 2026
  • Publish Date: 22 June 2026

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