Increased age and physical activity both affect motor learning (Colcombe & Kramer, 2003). However, it is unknown how differences in age and changes in daily physical activity affect motor skill acquisition and performance in a virtual world, where feedback on motor actions is offered visually via the software. Using a Nintendo Wii interactive gaming console (IGC), we examined motor skill acquisition in a virtual world for older adults ranging from the young-old (65-79) to the oldest-old (over 80), taking into account their daily reports of physical activity. Multi-level modeling will be used to determine how physical activity and age differences interact to predict success in the motor skill acquisition of a complex movement that results in an object throw in the virtual world. Analysis of results is in progress.
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