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Spatial interactions between successive eye and arm movements: signal type matters
Christopher D Cowper-Smith1, Jonathan Harris, Gail A Eskes
1Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Plos One
|March 26, 2013
Summary
Inhibition of return (IOR) affects movement responses differently based on target signal type. Peripheral signals show standard IOR patterns, while central signals reveal novel non-monotonic reaction times, suggesting motor network adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Human Factors
Background:
- Inhibition of return (IOR) is a well-established phenomenon influencing spatial attention and response times.
- IOR typically manifests as slower responses to previously attended or signalled locations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of different target signal types (peripheral vs. central) on the spatial distribution of inhibition of return.
- To differentiate the behavioral effects of IOR based on stimulus presentation and explore underlying neural mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Four experiments were conducted using saccadic and reaching movements.
- Peripheral and central target signals were employed with varying spatial offsets (0°, 90°, 180°).
- Reaction times were systematically analyzed to identify patterns associated with IOR.
Main Results:
- Peripheral target signals elicited monotonic reaction time patterns consistent with established IOR.
- Central target signals, however, resulted in non-monotonic reaction time patterns for both saccades and reaching movements.
- These findings indicate a divergence in behavioral effects contingent upon the type of stimulus cue.
Conclusions:
- The type of target signal significantly modulates the observed effects of inhibition of return.
- Non-monotonic reaction time patterns for central stimuli suggest neural adaptation within distributed motor networks encoding movement direction.
