Which statement about cues is true?

Which statement about cues is true?

• A. An internal cue always makes movement more natural than an external cue
• B. An external cue is irrelevant to learning
• C. An internal cue does not necessarily make the movement more natural than an external cue
• D. External cues should be avoided altogether

Answer: (C)

Focusing attention during practice shapes how we control movement. Internal cues direct your awareness to your body—things like how your joints feel or how you’re contracting muscles—while external cues direct attention to the effect of the movement, such as the target or the outcome of the motion. The best practice finding is that an internal cue does not necessarily make the movement feel more natural than an external cue. In many cases, directing attention to the effects of the action helps the nervous system organize the movement more automatically and smoothly, leading to better performance and learning. But this isn’t a universal rule: sometimes an internal cue can be useful, especially for guiding proper technique or when proprioceptive feedback is crucial. So, while external cues often promote more automatic, natural-feeling movement, internal cues aren’t guaranteed to do so in every situation. That’s why the true statement is that an internal cue does not necessarily make the movement more natural than an external cue.

Focusing attention during practice shapes how we control movement. Internal cues direct your awareness to your body—things like how your joints feel or how you’re contracting muscles—while external cues direct attention to the effect of the movement, such as the target or the outcome of the motion.

The best practice finding is that an internal cue does not necessarily make the movement feel more natural than an external cue. In many cases, directing attention to the effects of the action helps the nervous system organize the movement more automatically and smoothly, leading to better performance and learning. But this isn’t a universal rule: sometimes an internal cue can be useful, especially for guiding proper technique or when proprioceptive feedback is crucial. So, while external cues often promote more automatic, natural-feeling movement, internal cues aren’t guaranteed to do so in every situation.

That’s why the true statement is that an internal cue does not necessarily make the movement more natural than an external cue.