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Does visuomotor adaptation contribute to illusion-resistant grasping?
Evan Cesanek1, Carlo Campagnoli2, Jordan A Taylor2
1Brown University, Box 1821, 190 Thayer Street, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
|August 31, 2017
Summary
Illusory size distortions do not affect grasping movements, as maximum grip apertures (MGAs) remained accurate despite perceptual biases. Visuomotor adaptation did not explain this illusion resistance in grasping.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human motor control
Background:
- Perceptual illusions can influence motor actions, but studies show conflicting results regarding grasping movements.
- Illusion resistance in grasping may be explained by adaptation to repeated movements, a factor not fully explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if an adaptation model can predict the time course of Ponzo illusion effects on grasping movements.
- To determine if visuomotor adaptation reduces susceptibility to size illusions during grasping.
Main Methods:
- A visuomotor adaptation paradigm was used with participants performing grasping movements towards a target.
- Participants provided manual size estimates (MSEs) and their maximum grip apertures (MGAs) were recorded.
- Movement trajectories were analyzed post hoc to examine online corrections based on visual feedback.
Main Results:
- Manual size estimates (MSEs) were significantly biased by the Ponzo illusion.
- Maximum grip apertures (MGAs) were consistently accurate and showed immediate illusion resistance.
- Early movement phases showed illusion bias similar to perceptual estimates, but this bias attenuated before MGA.
Conclusions:
- Visuomotor adaptation is not the primary reason for illusion resistance in closed-loop grasping.
- Grasping movements appear resistant to illusory size distortions from the outset, suggesting other underlying mechanisms.
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