Which statement best distinguishes intrinsic from extrinsic feedback and when each is most effective?

• A. Intrinsic feedback is teacher-provided and extrinsic is learner-generated.
• B. Intrinsic feedback comes from the learner’s senses; extrinsic is teacher-provided. Intrinsic is best for automatic refinement; extrinsic is useful for novices or when technique is unfamiliar.
• C. Intrinsic feedback is always better for all learners; extrinsic has no role.
• D. Intrinsic feedback refers to outcomes only; extrinsic refers to movement quality.

Answer: (B)

Understanding feedback in motor learning hinges on where the information comes from and how it supports learning. Intrinsic feedback arises from the learner’s own senses during and after movement—proprioception, feel, balance, effort. Extrinsic feedback, often called augmented feedback, is information supplied by someone else or by a device—coach cues, video analysis, or knowledge of results.

This distinction matters for when each type is most effective. For beginners or when a technique is unfamiliar, extrinsic feedback helps establish correct patterns because learners may not yet detect errors reliably on their own. As a skill becomes more automatic and the learner can sense subtle aspects of movement, intrinsic feedback becomes more informative for fine-tuning and refining performance. Extrinsic feedback may still be used, but it’s often reduced over time to avoid creating dependency.

Other statements either misstate the source of feedback or oversimplify its role, such as implying intrinsic feedback is always superior or that extrinsic only concerns movement outcomes.