Signal Fidelity and Coordination Collapse: A Neural Cascade Model of Performance Failure

This paper introduces a conceptual model proposing that performance breakdown emerges from a cascade of signal degradation within the neuromotor system. The model begins with reduced neural signal fidelity and progresses through disrupted recruitment, degraded coordination, and eventual technical collapse. Framed within motor behavior and control theory, the model integrates prior work in fatigue, inhibition, and skill regulation to explain coordination failure as a systems-level constraint.This manuscript is part of a multi-paper sequence exploring the neural-centric model of performance adaptation. While grounded in shared theoretical foundations, each paper addresses a distinct framing and intended audience. This version is designed for researchers in motor control and behavior.This manuscript is currently under review at the Journal of Motor Behavior