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Control of sequential movements: evidence for generalized motor programs.

M C Carter, D C Shapiro

    Journal of Neurophysiology
    |November 1, 1984
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

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    This study shows that when people move faster, they proportionally shorten all parts of the movement, not just some. This suggests that the relative timing of movements is a fixed feature of motor programs.

    Area of Science:

    • Motor control and learning
    • Neuroscience
    • Biomechanics

    Background:

    • Understanding the neuromotor processes governing rapid sequential limb movements is crucial for fields like rehabilitation and sports science.
    • Previous models proposed different mechanisms for how movement speed is adjusted.
    • The role of invariant and variant features in generalized motor programs requires further investigation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the neuromotor control of rapid sequential limb movements under varying speed conditions.
    • To determine whether relative timing of movement segments changes when overall movement time is altered.
    • To examine the kinematic and electromyographic (EMG) characteristics of movement speed adjustments.

    Main Methods:

    • Subjects performed rapid forearm pronation-supination movements to four targets under two conditions: a fixed 600 ms total movement time and a self-paced, fastest possible time.

    Related Experiment Videos

  • Electromyographic (EMG) signals were recorded from the biceps brachii and pronator teres muscles.
  • Kinematic data (movement time, peak velocity) and EMG data (burst durations) were analyzed and normalized to assess temporal characteristics.

    • Main Results:

    • When subjects moved as fast as possible, total movement time decreased by approximately 100 ms, and peak velocity increased.
    • Despite the reduction in total movement time, the relative timing of individual movement segments and the timing of peak velocity remained invariant.
    • EMG analysis showed proportional compression of muscle burst durations, with relative muscle activity timing also remaining invariant.

    Conclusions:

    • Movement speed is a variant feature of generalized motor programs, while relative timing is an invariant feature.
    • The findings support a model where the motor program's relative timing structure is preserved, and the entire sequence is proportionally compressed in time.
    • This invariance of relative timing at both kinematic and neuromuscular levels challenges alternative models of motor control.