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Updated: May 9, 2026
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Estimation of Contact Regions Between Hands and Objects During Human Multi-Digit Grasping
Published on: April 21, 2023
Ultra-fast selection of grasping points.
D Voudouris1, J B J Smeets, E Brenner
1Research Institute MOVE, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Journal of Neurophysiology
|July 12, 2013
Summary
When grasping objects, our brains can quickly adjust finger placement if the object moves. This study shows we also reconsider where to touch, not just where to place fingers.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Robotics
- Human motor control
Background:
- Object grasping involves selecting digit positions and executing movements.
- Rapid adjustments occur when objects are displaced during reach-to-grasp.
- Uncertainty exists whether contact point selection is re-evaluated during these adjustments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if contact point selection is reconsidered during reach-to-grasp movements when the object is displaced.
- To differentiate between simple trajectory adjustments and re-selection of grasp points.
Main Methods:
- Subjects performed reach-to-grasp movements towards a ball or cube.
- Objects were briefly rotated during the digit movement phase.
- Digit movement trajectories and final contact points were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Digits adjusted to object rotation within 115 ms.
- For spherical objects, subjects re-selected contact points to achieve a preferred hand orientation.
- For cubic objects, subjects sometimes altered grasp sides, indicating re-selection of contact points within ~160 ms.
Conclusions:
- Grasping involves dynamic re-evaluation of contact points, not just trajectory correction.
- The brain actively reconsiders where to grasp based on real-time sensory feedback.
- This adaptive grasping strategy is crucial for effective manipulation of moving objects.
