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When intercepting moving targets, mid-movement error corrections reflect distinct responses to visual and haptic
Pablo Gonzalez Polanco1, Leigh A Mrotek1, Kristy A Nielson2
1Biomedical Engineering, Marquette University and Medical College of Wisconsin, Olin Engineering Center Rm 206, 1515 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53233, USA.
Experimental Brain Research
|December 5, 2022
Summary
The brain rapidly corrects mid-movement errors by predicting outcomes and inferring causes within 300ms. This sensorimotor skill adjustment allows for real-time performance modifications during interception tasks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Human Performance
Background:
- Sensorimotor skills involve precise movement execution.
- Correcting errors mid-movement is crucial for successful task completion.
- Understanding rapid error correction mechanisms is key to motor learning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the brain's capability to correct performance errors during ongoing movements.
- To analyze the timing and nature of submovements involved in error correction.
- To determine how unexpected changes in movement dynamics affect error correction strategies.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed interception movements using a robotic handle.
- Unexpected changes in robot viscosity or target speed were introduced mid-movement.
- A sum-of-Gaussians model analyzed mechanical power to identify submovements.
- Latency and magnitude of error corrections were measured.
Main Results:
- Initial error corrections occurred before explicit feedback on success or failure.
- Corrections were faster for increased viscosity (154 ms) than unprovoked errors (215 ms).
- Corrections adapted to altered conditions, showing increased vigor for increases and decreased vigor for decreases.
Conclusions:
- The brain predicts movement outcomes and infers error causes within 300 ms.
- Rapid, predictive error correction is a fundamental aspect of sensorimotor control.
- These findings shed light on the neural mechanisms underlying adaptive motor behavior.
