 muscle memory has been used synonymously with motor learning, which is a form of procedural memory that involves consolidating a specific motor task into memory through repetition. when a movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed without conscious effort. this process decreases the need for attention and creates maximum efficiency within the motor and memory systems. examples of muscle memory are found in many everyday activities that become automatic and improve with practice, such as riding a bicycle, typing on a keyboard, typing in a pin, playing a melody or phrase on a musical instrument, or martial arts.krakauer, j.w., & shadmehr, r. (2006). consolidation of motor memory. trends in neurosciences, 29: 58-64. == history == === movement and motor learning === movement is a critical part of one's life, and it is a major component of human evolutionary development. it has been suggested that our developed cognitive capacities evolved so we could make movements essential to our survival. for example, cognitive abilities evolved so we could use tools, build shelter, and hunt for animals. the origins of research for the acquisition of motor skills stem from philosophers such as plato, aristotle and galen. friedrich bessel is a philosopher who is especially noteworthy, as he was among the first to empirically observe motor learning. bessel tried to observe the difference in his colleagues with the method in which they recorded the transit time of stars.lee, d.t., & schmidt, a.r. (2005). motor control and learning: a behavioural emphasis. (4th ed). windsor, on: human kinetics after the break from tradition of the pre-1900s view of introspection, psychologists emphasized research and more scientific methods in observing behaviours.adams, a.j. (1987). historical review and appraisal of research on the learning, retention, and transfer of human motor skills. psychological bulletins, 101(1), 41-74 thereafter, numerous studies exploring the role of motor learning were conducted. such studies included the research of handwriting, and various practice methods to maximize motor learning. === retention === the retention of motor skills, now referred to as muscle memory, also began to be of great interest in the early 1900s. most motor skills are thought to be acquired through practice; however, mere observation of the skill has led to learning as well.celnik, p., classen, j., cohen, g.l., duque, j., mazzocchio, r., sawaki, l., stephan, k., & ungerleider, l. (2005). formation of a motor memory by action observation. the journal of neuroscience, 25(41), 9339-9346 research suggests we do not start off with a blank slate with regard to motor memory although we do learn mos
Memory Memory_processes