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Perseveration effects in reaching and grasping rely on motor priming and not perception

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Abstract

Perseveration effects in grasping were examined in two experiments. In both experiments, participants reached and grasped different versions of a novel object with their thumb and forefinger using either a horizontal or vertical pincer grasp. The dependent variable was the choice of grasp. In Experiment 1, trials were performed either with or without visual feedback. In Experiment 2, trials were performed either physically or using motor imagery. In both experiments, participants tended to perseverate in their choice of grip. Further, there was no evidence that either the availability of visual feedback during the preceding or current action modulated this effect; mode of responding was similarly inconsequential. The results were interpreted as evidence for a motor priming explanation of perseveration and against an account that relies on perceptual priming.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK

    Scott Glover

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2E9, Canada

    Peter Dixon

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  1. Scott Glover
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  2. Peter Dixon
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Correspondence to Scott Glover.

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Glover, S., Dixon, P. Perseveration effects in reaching and grasping rely on motor priming and not perception. Exp Brain Res 226, 53–61 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-013-3410-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-013-3410-y

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