Optimizing Motor Learning in Older Adults.

This article investigates the application of the OPTIMAL theory—Optimizing Performance Through Intrinsic Motivation and Attention for Learning—in enhancing motor-cognitive skill acquisition in older adults. The theory emphasizes three key factors: enhanced expectancies (EE), autonomy support (AS), and an external focus (EF) of attention, each shown to independently improve motor learning. In a study involving older women practicing a square-stepping task, participants exposed sequentially to EE (positive feedback), AS (choice of mat color), and EF (focus on squares) demonstrated significantly faster movement times during practice, as well as superior retention and transfer performance 24 hours later, compared to a control group without these factors. The findings suggest that incorporating these motivational and attentional elements can substantially improve motor skill learning and may have practical implications for physical activity programs aimed at older populations.