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Verbalizations Affect Visuomotor Control in Hitting Objects to Distant Targets.
Raimey Olthuis1, John Van Der Kamp2, Simone Caljouw1
1Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of GroningenGroningen, Netherlands.
Frontiers in Psychology
|May 13, 2017
Summary
Verbalizing target information influences visually guided movements, showing how language interacts with the dorsal and ventral visual streams. This study reveals semantic content impacts action, even without direct visual feedback.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Motor Control
Background:
- The brain utilizes distinct dorsal (action control) and ventral (perception) visual pathways, processing egocentric and allocentric information, respectively.
- While functionally separate, interactions between these visual systems are crucial for complex behaviors.
- Understanding how verbalization bridges these systems during action is key to deciphering visual-action coupling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the extent to which verbalizing target identity (ventral stream) influences action execution (dorsal stream) in a far-aiming task.
- To explore the direct and indirect effects of semantic content in verbalizations on motor control.
- To determine if verbalization enhances reliance on allocentric information and influences illusory context effects.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed a far-aiming task, hitting balls toward targets of varying lengths (94, 100, 106 cm).
- Target properties were verbally reported ('closer,' 'further') concurrently with movement, with and without delays.
- Impact velocity was measured, and Müller-Lyer illusions were incorporated to assess allocentric information reliance.
Main Results:
- The semantic content of verbalizations modulated movement execution when consistent with action demands, irrespective of target visibility.
- An illusory context effect on movement execution was observed universally, not solely dependent on verbalization.
- The experimental design likely promoted a strong reliance on allocentric information for guiding actions.
Conclusions:
- Verbalizing target information directly impacts motor execution, demonstrating a semantic influence on the dorsal visual stream.
- The study provides evidence for significant interaction between ventral and dorsal visual pathways, mediated by language.
- Far-aiming tasks requiring spatial information retention may inherently engage allocentric processing, influencing action control.
