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Phenomenal versus process explanations of prism aftereffects
1Illinois State University.
Journal of Motor Behavior
|December 29, 2009
Summary
Prism aftereffects occur regardless of limb visibility during throwing tasks. Sensory feedback, not visual experience of the limb, is crucial for these aftereffects, with larger effects when the limb is not seen.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Perception
- Motor Control
Background:
- Prism adaptation is a well-studied phenomenon in visual-motor control.
- The role of visual feedback versus proprioception in prism aftereffects remains debated.
- Previous research suggests visual experience of the limb influences prism aftereffects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether visual awareness of the limb is necessary for prism aftereffects.
- To compare the magnitude of prism aftereffects under conditions of limb visibility and invisibility.
- To differentiate between visual and proprioceptive contributions to prism aftereffects.
Main Methods:
- A ball-throwing task was employed during prism exposure with 28 participants.
- Participants were assigned to either a visible-limb or nonvisible-limb condition.
- Auditory and visual feedback from the moving ball were provided during exposure.
Main Results:
- Prism aftereffects were observed in both visible- and nonvisible-limb conditions.
- A larger total aftereffect was found in the nonvisible-limb condition.
- Proprioceptive aftereffects dominated visual aftereffects in the visible-limb group, while visual aftereffects were larger in the nonvisible-limb group.
Conclusions:
- Visual experience of the limb is not essential for prism aftereffects.
- Sensory feedback processing, rather than phenomenal visual experience, is critical for prism aftereffects.
- These findings support a processing-based hypothesis for prism aftereffects.
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