Sensory Prediction of Limb Movement Is Critical for Automatic Online Control

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Motor Control
• Human Movement

Background:

• Online movement control relies on correcting inaccurate motor planning.
• The roles of predicted sensory reafferences and actual visual feedback in error correction are debated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the distinct contributions of predicted visual reafferences and visual feedback to online motor error correction.
• To determine how the accuracy of predicted reafferences influences the processing of visual feedback.

Main Methods:

• Two experiments (Prism and Jump) induced undetected planning errors with varying accuracy of predicted visual reafferences.
• Visual feedback during movement execution was manipulated (visible or hidden).

Main Results:

• The Prism experiment (erroneous predictions) showed late, reduced error correction, even with visual feedback.
• The Jump experiment (accurate predictions) demonstrated early, automatic error correction, independent of visual feedback.

Conclusions:

• Accurate sensory predictions are critical for rapid and automatic processing of visual feedback during movement.
• Inefficient visual feedback processing and delayed correction occur when predictions are inaccurate, necessitating voluntary control.