Augmented Concurrent Feedback Degrades Learning: Implications for Training and Simulation

Abstract

Artificially augmented concurrent feedback during training is generally known to be strongly beneficial to performance during practice, but detrimental to the retention and transfer of skills that rely on closed-loop control processes; this relationship is unknown for more rapid open-loop skills, however. Augmented concurrent visual feedback was examined in the acquisition, retention, and transfer of discrete tasks where programming and open-loop processes are strongly involved. During practice, augmented concurrent feedback facilitated performance as indicated by several error measures, relative to a no-concurrent feedback condition. However, augmented concurrent feedback generally degraded accuracy and movement control stability in retention and transfer. These findings have strong relevance for training and simulation where retention and transfer performance is the ultimate goal.