Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Inertial Frames of Reference01:03

Inertial Frames of Reference

Newton’s first law is usually considered to be a statement about reference frames. It provides a method for identifying a special type of reference frame: the inertial reference frame. In principle, we can make the net force on a body zero. If its velocity relative to a given frame is constant, then that frame is said to be inertial. So, by definition, an inertial reference frame is a reference frame where Newton's first law holds valid. Newton's first law applies to objects with constant...
Non-inertial Frames of Reference01:27

Non-inertial Frames of Reference

A reference frame accelerating or decelerating relative to an inertial frame is a non-inertial frame. To help understand this, consider what taking off in an airplane, turning a corner in a car, riding a merry-go-round, and the circular motion of a tropical cyclone all have in common. All these systems are accelerating, decelerating, or rotating relative to the Earth; hence, they all are non-inertial frames. All these systems exhibit inertial forces, which merely seem to arise from motion,...
Anatomical Positions01:11

Anatomical Positions

In anatomy, several standard anatomical positions are used as references for describing the position and orientation of different body parts. These positions help provide a common frame of reference when discussing anatomical structures. The anatomical position is the standard reference point for describing the body's position and orientation. In this position:
The body is upright, facing forward, and standing erect.
The feet are parallel and flat on the floor.
The arms are hanging by the...
Accessory Structures of the Eye01:17

Accessory Structures of the Eye

Optical perception, or vision, is an extraordinary sense dependent on converting light signals received via the ocular organs. These organs, known as eyes, are securely positioned within the bony cavities of the skull, called orbits. The orbits serve a dual purpose: a protective shield for the ocular globes and a stable attachment point for the soft ocular tissues. The eye's external protective mechanisms include the eyelids, which are edged with lashes that act as a barrier against foreign...
Bones of the Upper Limb: Radius01:09

Bones of the Upper Limb: Radius

The radius is longer of the two bones that make up the human antebrachium or forearm. At the proximal end, the radius articulates with the capitulum of the humerus and the radial notch of the ulna to form the elbow joint. At the distal end, the radius articulates with the ulna via the ulnar notch, forming the distal radioulnar joint. Distally, the radius also attaches to the carpal wrist bones (scaphoid and lunate) to form the radiocarpal joint.
The radius has a nail-shaped head, and a short...
Muscles of the Forearm that Move the Hand and Fingers01:16

Muscles of the Forearm that Move the Hand and Fingers

The muscles of the forearm that move the wrist, hand, and digits are numerous and diverse. They can be classified into two groups based on their location and function — the anterior and posterior compartment muscles.
Anterior Compartment
The anterior compartment muscles originate from the humerus. They primarily function as flexors and are also known as flexor muscles. They typically insert on the carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges. The superficial layer includes the flexor carpi radialis,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Transformation from head- to shoulder-centered representation of target direction in arm movements.

Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2013
Same author

Gaze is driven by an internal goal trajectory in a visuomotor task.

The European journal of neuroscience·2013
Same author

Oculocentric frames of reference for limb movement.

Archives italiennes de biologie·2002
Same author

Capturing the frame of reference of shoulder muscle forces.

Archives italiennes de biologie·2002
Same author

Minor burn management: an Australian regional perspective.

Journal of wound care·2002
Same author

Two virtual fingers in the control of the tripod grasp.

Journal of neurophysiology·2001
Same journal

Sensorimotor Adaptation of Vocal Pitch Is Impaired in Cerebellar Ataxia.

Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Memory in the Palm of Your Hand: Smartphone-based Methods for Measuring Memory in the Wild.

Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Processing Asymmetry in Object-modifying Relative Clauses: Evidence from Functional Connectivity.

Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Extensive Experience Remodels Neural Task Circuitry to Escape the Frontal Bottleneck and Increase Automaticity of Categorization.

Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Investigating the Effects of Acute Stress on Neural Mechanisms of Self-controlled Decision-making.

Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Distilling the Neurophenomenological Signatures of Pure Awareness during Transcendental Meditation.

Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

Estimation of Contact Regions Between Hands and Objects During Human Multi-Digit Grasping
09:41

Estimation of Contact Regions Between Hands and Objects During Human Multi-Digit Grasping

Published on: April 21, 2023

Frames of reference for hand orientation.

M Flanders, J F Soechting

    Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
    |August 22, 2013
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Neural control of hand orientation during reaching and grasping movements appears to use a blend of spatial and arm-based reference frames. This compromise helps guide hand posture for object interaction.

    More Related Videos

    Block Building Task Identifies Distinct Groups of Left/Right-hand Choice Patterns After Unilateral Peripheral Nerve Injury
    07:06

    Block Building Task Identifies Distinct Groups of Left/Right-hand Choice Patterns After Unilateral Peripheral Nerve Injury

    Published on: March 21, 2025

    Frame-by-Frame Video Analysis of Idiosyncratic Reach-to-Grasp Movements in Humans
    10:51

    Frame-by-Frame Video Analysis of Idiosyncratic Reach-to-Grasp Movements in Humans

    Published on: January 15, 2018

    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: May 8, 2026

    Estimation of Contact Regions Between Hands and Objects During Human Multi-Digit Grasping
    09:41

    Estimation of Contact Regions Between Hands and Objects During Human Multi-Digit Grasping

    Published on: April 21, 2023

    Block Building Task Identifies Distinct Groups of Left/Right-hand Choice Patterns After Unilateral Peripheral Nerve Injury
    07:06

    Block Building Task Identifies Distinct Groups of Left/Right-hand Choice Patterns After Unilateral Peripheral Nerve Injury

    Published on: March 21, 2025

    Frame-by-Frame Video Analysis of Idiosyncratic Reach-to-Grasp Movements in Humans
    10:51

    Frame-by-Frame Video Analysis of Idiosyncratic Reach-to-Grasp Movements in Humans

    Published on: January 15, 2018

    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Biomechanics
    • Human Motor Control

    Background:

    • Reaching and grasping movements rely on object location and orientation information.
    • Optimal object orientation is defined in a spatial reference frame.
    • The neural control of hand orientation's reference frame remains under investigation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To determine if the neural control of hand orientation is best described by a spatial reference frame.
    • To investigate the interplay between spatial and arm-based reference frames in motor control.

    Main Methods:

    • Human subjects approximated verbally defined spatial orientations using a handheld rod.
    • Arm postures were varied to assess their influence on orientation judgments.
    • Subjects were tested under conditions encouraging spatial or arm-based reference frames.

    Main Results:

    • Subjects accurately estimated spatial vertical and horizontal orientations.
    • Consistent errors in estimating oblique spatial slants were observed, related to arm posture.
    • Performance biased towards a spatial reference frame even when an arm-based frame was requested.

    Conclusions:

    • Hand orientation control may involve a compromise between spatial and arm-fixed reference frames.
    • Reaching and grasping movements are likely implemented using a combination of these reference frames.
    • Both neural and behavioral evidence support an amalgam of reference frames in motor execution.