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Material evidence: interaction of well-learned priors and sensorimotor memory when lifting objects
Lee A Baugh1, Michelle Kao, Roland S Johansson
1Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Journal of Neurophysiology
|June 15, 2012
Summary
Sensorimotor memory and material-density priors both influence object weight prediction. Learning an object's specific weight (sensorimotor memory) aids future lifts, while material properties also impact predictions for new objects.
Area of Science:
- Human motor control
- Cognitive neuroscience
- Robotics
Background:
- Object weight prediction relies on learned correlations (size-weight, material-density) and sensorimotor memory.
- Sensorimotor memory updates predictions based on direct experience with an object.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the interaction between sensorimotor memory and material-density priors in weight prediction.
- Examine how lifting experience with a small object influences prediction of a larger, similar object.
Main Methods:
- Participants lifted small objects (wood/brass core, wood/brass veneer) multiple times.
- Participants then lifted a larger brass object with a matching veneer.
- Load-force rate and load-phase duration estimated predicted object weight.
Main Results:
- Lifting experience with small objects eliminated surface material effects on force prediction.
- Both surface and core material of the small object influenced the initial prediction of the larger object.
Conclusions:
- Sensorimotor memory for object density aids weight prediction of novel objects.
- Long-term material property priors continue to influence predictions even with acquired sensorimotor memory.
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