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Published on: August 25, 2020
The influence of advance information on the response complexity effect in manual aiming movements
Michael A Khan1, Stuart Mourton, Eric Buckolz
1School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, George Building, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales LL57 2PX, UK. m.khan@bangor.ac.uk
Abstract:
The relation between reaction time and the number of elements in a response has been shown to depend on whether simple or choice RT paradigms are employed. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether advance information about the number of elements is the critical factor mediating the influence between reaction time and response elements. Participants performed aiming movements that varied in terms of the number of elements and movement amplitude. Prior to the stimulus, advance information was given about the number of elements and movement amplitude, movement amplitude only, number of elements only, or no information about the response. Reaction time and movement time to the first target increased as a function of number of elements only when the full response or the number of elements was specified in advance of the stimulus. The implication of these results for current models of motor programming and sequential control of aiming movements are discussed.
