Bridging the Gap Between Basic and Applied Approaches Across Motor Learning Communities

Motor learning underlies our ability to acquire and perfect movements across all domains of human behavior. The study of motor learning encompasses two distinct but related endeavors: basic research investigating fundamental mechanisms of how we learn movement skills, and applied research developing strategies to enhance skill acquisition in real-world contexts. Despite their natural complementarity, these approaches are not always studied in an integrated manner. Historically, both approaches developed within two largely independent communities: one focusing predominantly on basic research with connections to computational neuroscience, and the other on applied research with connections to experimental psychology and movement sciences. The division between these two communities is evident in citation patterns, conference attendance, and journal preferences. Here, we scrutinize this divide, review emerging efforts toward better integration and identify future opportunities. We advocate that, by bridging these gaps, we can build a more complete science of motor learning.