Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026
09:43
A Protocol for Using Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-force Biosensors to Measure Mechanical Forces across the Nuclear LINC Complex
Published on: April 11, 2017
11.3K
Predictability, force, and (anti)resonance in complex object control
Pauline Maurice1, Neville Hogan2,3, Dagmar Sternad1,4,5
1Department of Biology, Northeastern University , Boston, Massachusetts.
Journal of Neurophysiology
|April 19, 2018
Summary
Humans manipulate complex objects by increasing predictability, not minimizing force. They exploit object resonances for control, demonstrating adaptive strategies in challenging physical interactions.
Area of Science:
- Human motor control
- Robotics and intelligent systems
- Complex systems dynamics
Background:
- Human manipulation of objects is crucial for tool use and evolutionary success.
- Complex objects with underactuated internal dynamics, like a cup of coffee, present unique control challenges due to unpredictable motion.
- Understanding human strategies for controlling such objects is key to advancing human-robot interaction and understanding motor control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the strategies humans employ when manipulating objects with complex, underactuated internal dynamics.
- To test hypotheses regarding force reduction, predictability enhancement, and resonance exploitation in human object manipulation.
- To analyze how humans adapt their movements to control unpredictable object behavior.
Main Methods:
- A virtual reality experiment with a haptic interface simulating a cart-and-pendulum system (mimicking sloshing liquid).
- Participants rhythmically manipulated the virtual object, choosing oscillation frequency while amplitude was fixed.
- Analysis of interaction forces, mutual information (for predictability), and frequency response of the coupled hand-object system.
Main Results:
- Humans adopted either high-frequency (antiphase) or low-frequency (in-phase) movement strategies.
- Contrary to force minimization, participants increased interaction predictability (mutual information).
- Both strategies exploited resonance frequencies of the coupled system and avoided antiresonance, supporting resonance exploitation and predictability enhancement.
Conclusions:
- Humans prioritize predictable interactions over minimizing physical force when manipulating complex objects.
- Adaptive motor control strategies involve exploiting the inherent resonance structure of the object-hand system.
- These findings offer insights into the challenges of physical interaction with underactuated systems and inform the design of assistive robotic devices.
Related Concept Videos
02:52Resonance
66.0K
The Lewis structure of a nitrite anion (NO2−) may actually be drawn in two different ways, distinguished by the locations of the N-O and N=O bonds.
66.0K
02:27Predicting Molecular Geometry
46.1K
VSEPR Theory for Determination of Electron Pair Geometries
46.1K
01:18Velocity of an Object
208
Understanding how an object moves along a path requires distinguishing between motion over a time span and motion at a precise moment. A useful example is a vehicle traveling along a straight and level path, where its position at any given time is known. The initial step in analyzing this motion is to measure how far the vehicle travels over a fixed time period. This measurement, called average velocity, is computed by dividing the total change in position by the duration over which the change...
208
01:03Prediction Intervals
3.4K
The interval estimate of any variable is known as the prediction interval. It helps decide if a point estimate is dependable.
However, the point estimate is most likely not the exact value of the population parameter, but close to it. After calculating point estimates, we construct interval estimates, called confidence intervals or prediction intervals. This prediction interval comprises a range of values unlike the point estimate and is a better predictor of the observed sample value, y.
However, the point estimate is most likely not the exact value of the population parameter, but close to it. After calculating point estimates, we construct interval estimates, called confidence intervals or prediction intervals. This prediction interval comprises a range of values unlike the point estimate and is a better predictor of the observed sample value, y.
3.4K
03:13Intermolecular Forces
71.9K
Atoms and molecules interact through bonds (or forces): intramolecular and intermolecular. The forces are electrostatic as they arise from interactions (attractive or repulsive) between charged species (permanent, partial, or temporary charges) and exist with varying strengths between ions, polar, nonpolar, and neutral molecules. The different types of intermolecular forces are ion–dipole, dipole–dipole, hydrogen bonds, and dispersion; among these, dipole–dipole, hydrogen...
71.9K
02:36Electromotive Force
30.3K
Electricity is generated by either electrons or ions flowing through a solution or a conducting medium. This flow of electrons or specifically electrical charge is defined as an electric current. When electrons move through a wire, they generate an electric current. It can be recalled that in a redox reaction, electrons are lost and gained. In the spontaneous redox reaction of zinc with copper, when zinc is immersed in a copper ion solution, a transfer of electrons from one substance to...
30.3K