Noise, Information Transmission, and Force Variability

This study was designed to test the hypothesis derived from information theory that increases in the variability of motor responses result from increases in perceptual-motor noise. Young adults maintained isometric force for extended periods at different levels of their maximum voluntary contraction...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance 1999-06, Vol.25 (3), p.837-851
Main Authors: Slifkin, Andrew B, Newell, Karl M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activity levels. Psychomotricity
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Exercise
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hand Strength - physiology
Human
Humans
Information processing
Male
Motor Performance
Noise
Noise Effects
Perceptual Motor Processes
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Psychomotor activities
Psychomotor Performance - physiology
Sensory perception
Time Factors
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Summary:This study was designed to test the hypothesis derived from information theory that increases in the variability of motor responses result from increases in perceptual-motor noise. Young adults maintained isometric force for extended periods at different levels of their maximum voluntary contraction. Force variability ( SD ) increased exponentially as a function of force level. However, the signal-to-noise ratio ( M/SD ), an index of information transmission, as well as measures of noise in both the time (approximate entropy) and frequency (power spectrum) domains, changed according to an inverted U -shaped function over the range of force levels. These findings indicate that force variability is not directly related to noise but that force output noisiness is positively correlated with the amount of information transmitted.
ISSN:0096-1523
1939-1277
DOI:10.1037/0096-1523.25.3.837