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An object for an action, the same object for other actions: effects on hand shaping

Experimental Brain Research volume 185, pages 111–119 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Objects can be grasped in several ways due to their physical properties, the context surrounding the object, and the goal of the grasping agent. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the prior-to-contact grasping kinematics of the same object vary as a result of different goals of the person grasping it. Subjects were requested to reach toward and grasp a bottle filled with water, and then complete one of the following tasks: (1) Grasp it without performing any subsequent action; (2) Lift and throw it; (3) Pour the water into a container; (4) Place it accurately on a target area; (5) Pass it to another person. We measured the angular excursions at both metacarpal-phalangeal (mcp) and proximal interphalangeal (pip) joints of all digits, and abduction angles of adjacent digit pairs by means of resistive sensors embedded in a glove. The results showed that the presence and the nature of the task to be performed following grasping affect the positioning of the fingers during the reaching phase. We contend that a one-to-one association between a sensory stimulus and a motor response does not capture all the aspects involved in grasping. The theoretical approach within which we frame our discussion considers internal models of anticipatory control which may provide a suitable explanation of our results.

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Notes

  1. We thank an anonymous reviewer for suggesting this alternative explanation.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Federico Tubaldi for his comment on an earlier version of the manuscript and Stefano Massaccesi for his technical support. This work was supported by a research grant from the Italian Ministry of Research (MUR) to UC.

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Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Psicologia Generale, Università di Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy

    Caterina Ansuini, Livia Giosa, Luca Turella, Gianmarco Altoè & Umberto Castiello

  2. Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK

    Umberto Castiello

Authors
  1. Caterina Ansuini
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  2. Livia Giosa
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  3. Luca Turella
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  4. Gianmarco Altoè
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  5. Umberto Castiello
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Correspondence to Umberto Castiello.

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Ansuini, C., Giosa, L., Turella, L. et al. An object for an action, the same object for other actions: effects on hand shaping. Exp Brain Res 185, 111–119 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-007-1136-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-007-1136-4

Keywords

  • Reach-to-grasp
  • Hand shaping
  • Internal models
  • Action planning
  • End-goal