Specificity of practice, visual information, and intersegmental dynamics in rapid-aiming limb movements

The authors tested the specificity of practice hypothesis on intersegmental dynamics of rapid-aiming limb movements. During acquisition, 20 participants performed an aiming task as quickly and accurately as possible either with or without vision. Following moderate (140 trials) and extensive (560 trials) practice, participants completed 20 transfer test trials in a no-vision condition. Overall, the acquisition-phase findings revealed that vision improved aiming accuracy performance but had only a slight impact on movement time and intersegmental dynamics. After 560 trials of practice, however, withdrawal of vision resulted in specificity of practice effects on intersegmental dynamics at the shoulder as well as on aiming accuracy. Taken together, those findings support and extend the specificity of practice hypothesis