Authors: John J Buchanan JinH Park Young U Ryu Charles H Shea
Publish Date: 2003/05/09
Volume: 150, Issue: 4, Pages: 473-489
Abstract
Two experiments addressed the issue of discrete and cyclical units as possible basic units of action that might be used to construct complex actions based on task constraints The experiments examined the influence of low and high accuracy constraints on the endeffectors motion in rhythmical aiming movements Both experiments utilized a Fittstype task under three accuracy constraints 1 big target pairing—low index of movement difficulty ID 2 small target pairing—high ID and 3 mixed target pairing—one target high ID and the other target low ID Experiment I was a 1degreeoffreedom df task that required subjects to crossover the inside edge of targets in a target pair using elbow flexion–extension motions Experiment II used a 2df task that required subjects to tap back and forth between targets in a target pair using a handheld stylus In both experiments endeffector motion in the low ID condition was cyclical with the endeffectors motion consistent with a limitcycle attractor description while in the high ID condition endeffector motion was discrete and consistent with a fixedpoint attractor description The mixed target pairing produced both discrete and cyclical features in the endeffectors dynamics that suggested a functional linking of discrete and cyclical units of action as the optimal movement solution Evidence supporting the above statements was found in the kinematic measures of movement time MT dwell time proportion of MT accelerating and decelerating and in a measure of harmonicity Guiard 1993 Acta Psychol 82139–159 Guiard 1997 Hum Mov Sci 1697–131 Extended practice in the mixed target condition revealed a bias towards cyclical motion with practice The results demonstrate that discrete and cyclical motion represented as limitcycle and fixedpoint attractors are basic units of action that the motor system uses in constructing more complex action sequences The results are discussed with reference to coordinative structures and the generalized motor program as basic units of action Issues pertaining to visual feedback processing and movement braking in rapid aiming tasks are also discussed
Keywords: