Zero transfer occurs when previous experience has no influence on the performance of a new skill or change in context of an existing skill. For example, previous swimming experience should not influence learning to snow ski.
When transfer of learning concerns the same skill performed with different limbs, it is called bilateral transfer. It occurs because the learner already understands what is required to achieve the goal of the skill. Another explanation is that a generalized motor program can be applied to performance on the unpracticed limb.