Frequency Distributions of Target-Directed Movements: Examining Spatial Variability in Its Wider Context

in Motor Control

Click name to view affiliation

James W. RobertsLiverpool Hope University

Search for other papers by James W. Roberts in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMedClose
*
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/mc.2018-0077
Keywords:
aiming; control and learning; limb location; stochastic
In Print:
Volume 23: Issue 4
Page Range:
485–497
Restricted access

Investigations of visually guided target-directed movement frequently adopt measures of within-participant spatial variability to infer the contribution of planning and control. The present study aims to verify this current trend by exploring the distribution of displacements at kinematic landmarks with a view to understand the potential sources of variability. Separate sets of participants aiming under full visual feedback conditions revealed a comparatively normal distribution for the displacements at peak velocity and movement end. However, there was demonstrable positive skew in the displacement at peak acceleration and a significant negative skew at peak deceleration. The ranges of the distributions as defined by either ±1SD or ±34.13th percentile (equivalent to an estimated 68.26% of responses) also revealed differences at peak deceleration. These findings indicate that spatial variability in the acceleration domain features highly informative systematic, as well as merely inherent, sources of variability. Implications for the further quantification of trial-by-trial behavior are discussed.

The author is with the School of Health Sciences, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Roberts (robertj3@hope.ac.uk) is corresponding author.
  • Collapse
  • Expand

Motor Control

Cover Motor Control

  • Allsop, J.E., Lawrence, G.P., Gray, R., & Khan, M.A. (2016). The interaction between practice and performance pressure on the planning and control of fast target directed movement. Psychological Research, 81(5), 1004–1019. PubMed ID: 27535064 doi:10.1007/s00426-016-0791-0

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Burkitt, J.J., Staite, V., Yeung, A., Elliott, D., & Lyons, J.L. (2015). Effector mass and trajectory optimization in the online regulation of goal-directed movement. Experimental Brain Research, 233(4), 1097–1107. PubMed ID: 25567091 doi:10.1007/s00221-014-4191-7

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Cheng, D.T., Luis, M., & Tremblay, L. (2008). Randomizing visual feedback in manual aiming: Reminiscence of the previous trial condition and prior knowledge of feedback availability. Experimental Brain Research, 189(4), 403–410. PubMed ID: 18560814 doi:10.1007/s00221-008-1436-3

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Elliott, D., Carson, R.G., Goodman, D., & Chua, R. (1991). Discrete vs. continuous visual control of manual aiming. Human Movement Science, 10, 393–418. doi:10.1016/0167-9457(91)90013-N

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Elliott, D., Hansen, S., Mendoza, J., & Tremblay, L. (2004). Learning to optimize speed, accuracy, and energy expenditure: A framework for understanding speed-accuracy relations in goal-directed aiming. Journal Motor Behavior, 36(3), 339–351. doi:10.3200/JMBR.36.3.339-351

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Elliott, D., Helsen, W.F., & Chua, R. (2001). A century later: Woodworth’s (1899) two-component model of goal-directed aiming. Psychological Bulletin, 127(3), 342–357. PubMed ID: 11393300 doi:10.1037/0033-2909.127.3.342

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Faisal, A.A., Selen, L.P.J., & Wolpert, D.M. (2008). Noise in the nervous system. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 9, 292–303. PubMed ID: 18319728 doi:10.1038/nrn2258

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Fitts, P.M. (1954). The information capacity of the human motor system in controlling the amplitude of movement. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 47(6), 381–391. PubMed ID: 13174710 doi:10.1037/h0055392

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Fitts, P.M., & Peterson, J.R. (1964). Information capacity of discrete motor responses. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 67(2), 103–112. doi:10.1037/h0045689

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Grierson, L.E.M., & Elliott, D. (2008). Kinematic analysis of goal-directed aims made against early and late perturbations: An investigation of the relative influence of two online control processes. Human Movement Science, 27(6), 839–856. doi:10.1016/j.humov.2008.06.001

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Grierson, L.E.M., Lyons, J., & Elliott, D. (2011). The impact of real and illusory perturbations on the early trajectory adjustments of goal-directed movements. Journal of Motor Behavior, 43(5), 383–391. PubMed ID: 21861628 doi:10.1080/00222895.2011.606441

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hansen, S., Elliott, D., & Khan, M.A. (2008). Quantifying the variability of three-dimensional aiming movements using ellipsoids. Motor Control, 12(3), 241–251. PubMed ID: 18698108 doi:10.1123/mcj.12.3.241

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hansen, S., Tremblay, L., & Elliott, D. (2005). Part and whole practice: Chunking and online control in the acquisition of a serial motor task. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 76(1), 60–66. PubMed ID: 15810771 doi:10.1080/02701367.2005.10599262

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Joseph, M.E., King, A.C., & Newell, K.M. (2013). Task difficulty and the time scales of warm-up and motor learning. Journal of Motor Behavior, 45(13), 231–238. PubMed ID: 23611248 doi:10.1080/00222895.2013.784240

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Khan, M.A., & Binsted, G. (2010). Visual field asymmetries in the control of target-directed movements. In D. Elliott & M.A. Khan (Eds.), Vision and goal-directed movement: Neurobehavioural perspectives (pp. 133–145). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Khan, M.A., Elliott, D., Coull, J., Chua, R., & Lyons, J. (2002). Optimal control strategies under different feedback schedules: Kinematic evidence. Journal of Motor Behavior, 34(1), 45–57. PubMed ID: 11880249 doi:10.1080/00222890209601930

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Khan, M.A., & Franks, I.M. (2003). Online versus offline processing of visual feedback in the production of component submovements. Journal of Motor Behavior, 35(3), 285–295. doi:10.1080/00222890309602141

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Khan, M.A., Franks, I.M., Elliott, D., Lawrence, G.P., Chua, R., Bernier, P., . . . Weeks, D.J. (2006). Inferring online and offline processing of visual feedback in target-directed movements from kinematic data. Neuroscience & Behavioral Reviews, 30, 1106–1121. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2006.05.002

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Khan, M.A., Lawrence, G., Fourkas, A., Franks, I.M., Elliott, D., & Pembroke, S. (2003). Online versus offline processing of visual feedback in the control of movement amplitude. Acta Psychologica, 113(1), 83–97. PubMed ID: 12679045 doi:10.1016/S0001-6918(02)00156-7

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lyons, J., Hansen, S., Hurding, S., & Elliott, D. (2006). Optimizing rapid aiming behaviour: Movement kinematics depend on the cost of corrective modifications. Experimental Brain Research, 174(1), 95–100. PubMed ID: 16575577 doi:10.1007/s00221-006-0426-6

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Meyer, D.E., Abrams, R.A., Kornblum, S., Wright, C.E., & Smith, J.E. (1988). Optimality in human motor performance: Ideal control of rapid aimed movements. Psychological Review, 95(3), 340–370. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.95.3.340

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Oliveira, F.T.P., Elliott, D., & Goodman, D. (2005). Energy-minimization bias: Compensating for intrinsic influence of energy-minimization mechanisms. Motor Control, 9(1), 101–114. PubMed ID: 15784952 doi:10.1123/mcj.9.1.101

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Rabbitt, P.M.A. (1981). Sequential action. In D.H. Holding (Ed.), Human skill (pp. 147–170). London, UK: Wiley.

  • Roberts, J.W., Burkitt, J.J., Elliott, D., & Lyons, J.L. (2016). The impact of strategic trajectory optimization on illusory target biases during goal-directed aiming. Journal of Motor Behavior, 48(6), 542–551. PubMed ID: 27362494 doi:10.1080/00222895.2016.1161588

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Roberts, J.W., Elliott, D., Lyons, J.L., Hayes, S.J., & Bennett, S.J. (2016). Common vs. independent limb control in sequential vertical aiming: The cost of potential errors during extension and reversals. Acta Psychologica, 163, 27–37. PubMed ID: 26590702 doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2015.10.004

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Roberts, J.W., Wilson, M.R., Skultety, J., & Lyons, J.L. (2018). Examining the effect of state anxiety on compensatory and strategic adjustments in the planning of goal-directed aiming. Acta Psychologica, 185, 33–40. PubMed ID: 29407243 doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2018.01.008

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Schmidt, R.A., Zelaznik, H.N., Hawkins, B., Frank, J.S., & Quinn, J.T. (1979). Motor output variability: A theory for the accuracy of rapid motor acts. Psychological Review, 86(5), 415–451. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.86.5.415

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Shea, J.B., & Morgan, R.L. (1979). Contextual interference effects on the acquisition, retention, and transfer of a motor skill. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 5(2), 179–187. doi:10.1037/0278-7393.5.2.179

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • van Beers, R.J. (2009). Motor learning is optimally tuned to the properties of motor noise. Neuron, 63(3), 406–417. PubMed ID: 19679079 doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2009.06.025

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • van Beers, R.J., Haggard, P., & Wolpert, D.M. (2004). The role of execution noise in movement variability. Journal of Neurophysiology, 91, 1050–1063. PubMed ID: 14561687 doi:10.1152/jn.00652.2003

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Welford, A.T. (1968). Fundamentals of skill. New York, NY: Methuen.

  • Wolpert, D.M., & Flanagan, J.R. (2010). Motor learning. Current Biology, 20(11), R468. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2010.04.035

  • Woodworth, R.S. (1899). The accuracy of voluntary movement. The Psychological Review: Monograph Supplements, 3(3), 1–114.

  • Worringham, C.J. (1991). Variability effects on the internal structure of rapid aiming movements. Journal of Motor Behavior, 23(1), 75–85. PubMed ID: 14766533 doi:10.1080/00222895.1991.9941595

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 1589 677 0
Full Text Views 19 0 0
PDF Downloads 9 0 0