<p>Motor learning is a complex process <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(10)00512-9?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982210005129%3Fshowall%3Dtrue" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(Wolpert &amp; Flanagan, 2010)</a>. Oftentimes the process is broken up in elements <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.1002313" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(Weaver, 2015)</a>:</p>

<ul>
<li>a cognitive phase;</li>
<li>an associative phase; </li>
<li>an autonomous phase.</li>
</ul>

<p>The process you describe as having the 'knowledge' is part of phase 1, namely cognitively analyzing what is needed to do the job. However, the associative phase is necessary, where one actively practices and obtains feedback through observation and instructions by a teacher of what is correct, and what still needs work. Lastly, the motor behavior needs to be automated, such that it can happen without conscious control <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.1002313" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(Weaver, 2015)</a>. </p>

<p>This process needs a lot of time and hence the scene in the Matrix where Neo learns Kung Fu in a split second is obviously not possible. In fact, mastering martial arts, and in fact any skill, leads to profound changes in the brain, including gross structural changes that can only happen over the course of days, weeks, or even months. For instance, jugglers have been shown to increase gray matter over time in specific areas of the brain (Fig. 1).</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/OaBkw.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/OaBkw.png" alt="juggling"></a><br>
<sup>Fig. 1. Expert jugglers show increased gray matter volume in several brain areas, including the secondary visual cortex and the hMT +/V5 <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S105381191400278X?casa_token=2A1fHizRjRAAAAAA:HjjUSBMsC59-rmMjVvTyX9nB_y-dubgffGolNjUmBa2nLRXVtPQa-HrJ2uvIvhZOYOSrvw2I4w" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(Gerber <em>et al</em>. , 2014)</a></sup></p>

<p><sub><strong>References</strong><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S105381191400278X?casa_token=2A1fHizRjRAAAAAA:HjjUSBMsC59-rmMjVvTyX9nB_y-dubgffGolNjUmBa2nLRXVtPQa-HrJ2uvIvhZOYOSrvw2I4w" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Gerber <em>et al</em>., <em>NeuroImage</em> (2015); <strong>95</strong>: 320-5</a><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.1002313" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Weaver, <em>PLoS Biol</em> (2015); <strong>13</strong>(12): e1002313</a><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(10)00512-9?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982210005129%3Fshowall%3Dtrue" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wolpert &amp; Flanagan, <em>Curr Biol</em> (2010); <strong>20</strong>(11): R467-72</a></sub> </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-14T15:02:23.833Z
2020-04-14T19:21:05.037Z
2020-04-14T19:21:05.037Z
AliceD
<p>In the following video eventhough people know that when handlebar of the bicycle is turned left the wheel of that bicycle is turned towards right and vice versa, they can't ride that new bicycle instantaneously without any practice. Why is that so? Why can't we do something even though we know how it works? what is the scientific explanation behind it?</p>

<p><a href="https://youtu.be/MFzDaBzBlL0" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Detailed video link</a></p>

<p><a href="https://youtu.be/BGW79MivM1Q" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Short video</a></p>

<p>One more hypothetical question relating to this. Let us consider a boy who never swam in his life, if theoretically came to know each and every aspect of swimming ,learning for several years. If one day after these years he fell into a large swimming pool, can he decently swim by applying his theoretical knowledge.</p>

<p>This is not a thought experiment as in philosophy.I want to know <strong>scientifically how</strong> his <strong>knowledge and doing</strong> of swimming <strong>correlate</strong>? </p>

<neuroscience><cognitive-neuroscience><brain><brain-training><brain-development>
Why can't we do the things we know instantaneously?
A P SATHISH KUMAR
# Why can't we do the things we know instantaneously?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-04-14)

In the following video eventhough people know that when handlebar of the bicycle is turned left the wheel of that bicycle is turned towards right and vice versa, they can't ride that new bicycle instantaneously without any practice. Why is that so? Why can't we do something even though we know how it works? what is the scientific explanation behind it?

[Detailed video link](https://youtu.be/MFzDaBzBlL0)

[Short video](https://youtu.be/BGW79MivM1Q)

One more hypothetical question relating to this. Let us consider a boy who never swam in his life, if theoretically came to know each and every aspect of swimming ,learning for several years. If one day after these years he fell into a large swimming pool, can he decently swim by applying his theoretical knowledge.

This is not a thought experiment as in philosophy.I want to know **scientifically how** his **knowledge and doing** of swimming **correlate**?

**Tags:** neuroscience, cognitive-neuroscience, brain, brain-training, brain-development


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-04-14. Score: 2

Motor learning is a complex process [(Wolpert & Flanagan, 2010)](https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(10)00512-9?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982210005129%3Fshowall%3Dtrue). Oftentimes the process is broken up in elements [(Weaver, 2015)](https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.1002313):

* a cognitive phase;
* an associative phase;
* an autonomous phase.

The process you describe as having the 'knowledge' is part of phase 1, namely cognitively analyzing what is needed to do the job. However, the associative phase is necessary, where one actively practices and obtains feedback through observation and instructions by a teacher of what is correct, and what still needs work. Lastly, the motor behavior needs to be automated, such that it can happen without conscious control [(Weaver, 2015)](https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.1002313).

This process needs a lot of time and hence the scene in the Matrix where Neo learns Kung Fu in a split second is obviously not possible. In fact, mastering martial arts, and in fact any skill, leads to profound changes in the brain, including gross structural changes that can only happen over the course of days, weeks, or even months. For instance, jugglers have been shown to increase gray matter over time in specific areas of the brain (Fig. 1).

[![juggling](https://i.sstatic.net/OaBkw.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/OaBkw.png)  
Fig. 1. Expert jugglers show increased gray matter volume in several brain areas, including the secondary visual cortex and the hMT +/V5 [(Gerber *et al*. , 2014)](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S105381191400278X?casa_token=2A1fHizRjRAAAAAA:HjjUSBMsC59-rmMjVvTyX9nB_y-dubgffGolNjUmBa2nLRXVtPQa-HrJ2uvIvhZOYOSrvw2I4w)

**References**  
**-** [Gerber *et al*., *NeuroImage* (2015); **95**: 320-5](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S105381191400278X?casa_token=2A1fHizRjRAAAAAA:HjjUSBMsC59-rmMjVvTyX9nB_y-dubgffGolNjUmBa2nLRXVtPQa-HrJ2uvIvhZOYOSrvw2I4w)  
**-** [Weaver, *PLoS Biol* (2015); **13**(12): e1002313](https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.1002313)  
**-** [Wolpert & Flanagan, *Curr Biol* (2010); **20**(11): R467-72](https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(10)00512-9?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982210005129%3Fshowall%3Dtrue)


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