Editing Motor skill (section)

== Stages of motor learning ==
Motor learning is a change, resulting from practice. It often involves improving the accuracy of movements both simple and complex as one's environment changes. Motor learning is a relatively permanent skill as the capability to respond appropriately is acquired and retained.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Adams J.A. | year = 1971 | title = A closed-loop theory of motor learning | journal = J Mot Behav | volume = 3 | issue = 2| pages = 111–49 | doi = 10.1080/00222895.1971.10734898 | pmid = 15155169 }}</ref>

The stages of motor learning are the cognitive phase, the associative phase, and the autonomous phase.
* Cognitive phase – When a learner is new to a specific task, the primary thought process starts with, "What needs to be done?"  Considerable cognitive activity is required so that the learner can determine appropriate strategies to adequately reflect the desired goal. Good strategies are retained and inefficient strategies are discarded. The performance is greatly improved in a short amount of time.
* Associative phase – The learner has determined the most-effective way to do the task and starts to make subtle adjustments in performance. Improvements are more gradual and movements become more consistent. This phase can last for a long time. The skills in this phase are fluent, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing.
* Autonomous phase – This phase may take several months to years to reach. The phase is dubbed "autonomous" because the performer can now "automatically" complete the task without having to pay any attention to performing it. Examples include walking and talking or sight reading while doing simple arithmetic.<ref name="LeeSchmidt">{{cite book |author1=Lee, Timothy Donald |author2=Schmidt, Richard Penrose |title=Motor control and learning: a behavioral emphasis |publisher=Human Kinetics |location=Champaign, IL |year=1999 |isbn=0-88011-484-3 }}</ref>