Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
06:17
A Task for Assessing the Impact of a Partner on the Speed and Accuracy of Motor Performance in Rats
Published on: October 17, 2019
Risk sensitivity in a motor task with speed-accuracy trade-off
Arne J Nagengast1, Daniel A Braun, Daniel M Wolpert
1Computational and Biological Learning Laboratory, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom. arne.nagengast@gmail.com
Journal of Neurophysiology
|March 25, 2011
Summary
Individual risk attitudes significantly influence motor control in speed-accuracy tasks. Some individuals exhibit risk-averse behavior, while others are risk-seeking, impacting movement choices in scenarios with varying reward variability.
Area of Science:
- Motor control
- Cognitive psychology
- Decision-making
Background:
- Speed-accuracy trade-offs are fundamental in motor control, impacting performance in tasks like driving.
- Existing motor control theories often assume risk neutrality, neglecting payoff variability's influence.
- Understanding risk sensitivity's role in motor tasks with trade-offs is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how individual risk attitudes affect performance in a motor task with a speed-accuracy trade-off.
- To determine if risk preferences (aversion vs. seeking) influence movement selection under varying reward variance.
- To test the applicability of risk-sensitive models in explaining motor control behavior.
Main Methods:
- Designed an experiment where participants aimed to hit a target, with rewards based on accuracy and velocity.
- Manipulated reward variance while keeping the mean reward constant across conditions.
- Observed participant behavior (movement velocity) under different reward variance levels.
Main Results:
- Participants exhibited varied responses to increased reward variance.
- Risk-averse subjects chose lower velocities, while risk-seeking subjects opted for higher velocities.
- Observed behaviors deviated from risk-neutral predictions, aligning with risk-sensitive accounts.
Conclusions:
- Individual risk sensitivity is a significant factor in motor tasks involving speed-accuracy trade-offs.
- Movement selection is influenced by an individual's attitude towards risk and reward variability.
- Risk-sensitive models provide a better framework for understanding these motor behaviors.
