Coupling of Eye, Finger, Elbow, and Shoulder Movements During Manual Aiming

Temporal and spatial coupling of point of gaze (PG) and movements of the finger, elbow, and shoulder during a speeded aiming task were examined. Ten participants completed 40-cm aiming movements with the right arm, in a situation that allowed free movement of the eyes, head, arm, and trunk. On the m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of motor behavior 2000-09, Vol.32 (3), p.241-248
Main Authors: Helsen, Werner F., Elliott, Digby, Starkes, Janet L., Ricker, Kathryn L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activity levels. Psychomotricity
Biological and medical sciences
Biomechanical Phenomena
Elbow
Evidence
Eye Movements
Eye Movements - physiology
eye-limb coupling
Fingers
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
manual aiming
motor control
Movement - physiology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Psychomotor activities
Reaction Time
Shoulder
Space life sciences
Space Perception - physiology
Spatial Behavior - physiology
Time Factors
Visual Perception - physiology
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Summary:Temporal and spatial coupling of point of gaze (PG) and movements of the finger, elbow, and shoulder during a speeded aiming task were examined. Ten participants completed 40-cm aiming movements with the right arm, in a situation that allowed free movement of the eyes, head, arm, and trunk. On the majority of trials, a large initial saccade undershot the target slightly, and 1 or more smaller corrective saccades brought the eyes to the target position. The finger, elbow, and shoulder exhibited a similar pattern of undershooting their final positions, followed by small corrective movements. Eye movements usually preceded limb movements, and the eyes always arrived at the target well in advance of the finger. There was a clear temporal coupling between primary saccade completion and peak acceleration of the finger, elbow, and shoulder. The initiation of limb-segment movement usually occurred in a proximal-to-distal pattern. Increased variability in elbow and shoulder position as the movement progressed may have served to reduce variability in finger position. The spatial-temporal coupling of PG with the 3 limb segments was optimal for the pick up of visual information about the position of the finger and the target late in the movement.
ISSN:0022-2895
1940-1027
DOI:10.1080/00222890009601375