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Target-related coupling in bimanual reaching movements.
Matthias Weigelt1, Martina Rieger, Franz Mechsner
1Department of Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Amalienstrasse 33, 80799 Muenchen, Germany. weigelt@cbs.mpg.de
Psychological Research
|January 7, 2006
Summary
Cuing target locations, not movement parameters, speeds up simultaneous reaching movements. This indicates target cuing benefits can override potential intermanual interference effects during complex motor tasks.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Motor Control
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Bimanual interference effects occur in simultaneous reaching movements when parameters are symbolically cued.
- These interference effects diminish when target locations are directly cued.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if target-location cuing benefits generalize to symbolic cues indicating target locations.
- To examine the impact of symbolic target-location cues on intermanual interference during bimanual reaching movements.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed simultaneous bimanual reaching movements to two of four possible target locations.
- Symbolic cues (circles, crosses) indicated target locations, varying in distance and direction.
- Movement initiation times were measured under conditions of equivalent and non-equivalent target locations.
Main Results:
- Faster movement initiation times were observed for equivalent target locations compared to non-equivalent ones.
- Evidence suggests the effect is driven by target equivalence, not cue similarity.
- No significant bimanual interference related to movement parameter values was detected.
Conclusions:
- Cuing target locations effectively accelerates bimanual reaching movements.
- Target-location cuing benefits can outweigh potential intermanual interference during concurrent movement programming.