Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The role of different submovement types during pointing to a target

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Experimental Brain Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study extends our previous findings in challenging the traditional interpretation of irregularities in the velocity profile of pointing movements as corrective submovements performed to improve accuracy of target achievement. The study is driven by a hypothesis that pointing includes at least two subtasks, accurate target achievement and motion termination, each of which can cause submovements (Dounskaia et al. Exp Brain Res 164:505–516, 2005). To investigate submovements associated with these subtasks, two tasks were performed in the experiment. Task 1 was used to examine the contribution of the two subtasks on submovement production by comparing submovements in discrete movements that include motion termination and in cyclic movements during which motion termination is not performed. Target size manipulations emphasized submovements related to the accuracy subtask. The results confirmed that both subtasks included in pointing cause submovements. Gross types of submovements (types 1 and 2) were associated with motion termination and fine submovements (type 3) with accuracy regulation. Task 2 further investigated sources of the accuracy-associated type 3 submovements by including only cyclic movements performed at two levels of frequency. Most (97.6%) of the submovements in task 2 were of type 3. Submovement incidence was strongly (inversely) associated with cyclic frequency, and it was independent of target size. This result questions the accuracy subtask as a primary source for type 3 submovements, and it raises the possibility that these submovements are an inherent property of low-speed movements. Together, results of the two tasks support our previous finding that gross submovements are not necessarily related to accuracy regulation. They also provide evidence that challenges the interpretation of fine submovements as corrections performed voluntarily to improve pointing accuracy. Alternative interpretations of accuracy regulation mechanisms, such as regulation of muscle stiffness and of the muscle co-contraction level are discussed in light of the present results.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrams RA, Pratt J (1993) Rapid aimed limb movements: differential effects of practice on component submovements. J Mot Behav 25:288–298

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adam JJ, Paas F (1996) Dwell time in reciprocal aiming tasks. Hum Mov Sci 15:1–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adam JJ, Vanderbruggen DPW, Bekkering H (1993) The control of discrete and reciprocal target-aiming responses—evidence for the exploitation of mechanics. Hum Mov Sci 12:353–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adamovich SV, Levin MF, Feldman AG (1994) Merging different motor patterns—coordination between rhythmical and discrete single-joint movements. Exp Brain Res 99:325–337

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Almeida GL, Hong DA, Corcos D, Gottlieb GL (1995) Organizing principles for voluntary movement—extending single-joint rules. J Neurophys 74:1374–1381

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bedard P, Proteau L (2004) On-line vs. off-line utilization of peripheral visual afferent information to ensure spatial accuracy of goal-directed movements. Exp Brain Res 158:75–85

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berardelli A, Hallett M, Rothwell JC, Agostino R, Manfredi M, Thompson PD, Marsden CD (1996) Single-joint rapid arm movements in normal subjects and in patients with motor disorders. Brain 119:661–674

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan JJ, Park JH, Ryu YU, Shea CH (2003) Discrete and cyclical units of action in a mixed target pair aiming task. Exp Brain Res 150:473–489

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan JJ, Park JH, Shea CH (2004) Systematic scaling of target width: dynamics, planning, and feedback. Neurosci Lett 367:317–322

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carlton LG (1992) Visual processing time and the control of movement. In: Proteau L, Elliott D (eds) Vision and motor control. Elsevier, New York, Amsterdam, pp 3–31

  • Christou EA, Carlton LG (2002) Motor output is more variable during eccentric compared with concentric contractions. Med Sci Sports Exerc 34:1773–1778

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chua R, Elliott D (1993) Visual regulation of manual aiming. Hum Mov Sci 12:365–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crossman E, Goodeve PJ (1983) Feedback-control of hand-movement and fitts law. Q J Exp Psych A Hum Exp Psych 35:251–278

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Desmurget M, Grafton S (2000) Forward modeling allows feedback control for fast reaching movements. Trends Cogn Sci 4:423–431

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dounskaia N, Ketcham CJ, Stelmach GE (2002a) Commonalities and differences in control of various drawing movements. Exp Brain Res 146:11–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dounskaia NV, Ketcham CJ, Stelmach GE (2002b) Influence of biomechanical constraints on horizontal arm movements. Motor Control 6:366–387

    Google Scholar 

  • Dounskaia N, Wisleder D, Johnson T (2005) Influence of biomechanical factors on substructure of pointing movements. Exp Brain Res 164:505–516

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott D, Helsen WF, Chua R (2001) A century later: Woodworth’s (1899) two-component model of goal-directed aiming. Psychol Bull 127:342–357

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Enoka RM (1994) Neuromechanical basis of kinesiology. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitts PM (1954) The information capacity of the human motor system in controlling the amplitude of movement. J Exp Psychol 47:381–391

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghez C, Gordon J, Ghilardi MF, Sainburg RL (1994) Contributions of vision and proprioception to accuracy in limb movements. In: Gazzaniga MS (ed) The cognitive neurosciences. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, pp 549–564

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon J, Ghilardi MF, Cooper SE, Ghez C (1994) Accuracy of planar reaching movements. II. Systematic extent errors resulting from inertial anisotropy. Exp Brain Res 99:112–130

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gottlieb GL (1998) Muscle activation patterns during two types of voluntary single-joint movement. J Neurophys 80:1860–1867

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gribble PL, Ostry DJ (1999) Compensation for interaction torques during single- and multijoint limb movement. J Neurophys 82:2310–2326

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guiard Y (1993) On Fitts’s and Hooke’s laws: simple harmonic movement in upper-limb cyclical aiming. Acta Psychol (Amst) 82:139–159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guiard Y (1997) Fitts’ law in the discrete vs cyclical paradigm. Hum Mov Sci 16:97–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hallett M, Shahani BT, Young RR (1975) EMG analysis of stereotyped voluntary movements in man. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 38:1154–1162

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hannaford B, Stark L (1985) Roles of the elements of the triphasic control signal. Exp Neurol 90:619–634

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hogan N (1985) The mechanics of multi-joint posture and movement control. Biol Cybern 52:315–331

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hollerbach JM, Flash T (1982) Dynamic interactions between limb segments during planar arm movement. Biol Cybern 44:67–77

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelso JAS (1992) Theoretical concepts and strategies for understanding perceptual-motor skill—from information capacity in closed systems to self-organization in open, nonequilibrium systems. J Exp Psych Gen 121:260–261

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ketcham CJ, Seidler RD, Van Gemmert AW, Stelmach GE (2002) Age-related kinematic differences as influenced by task difficulty, target size, and movement amplitude. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 57:P54–P64

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khan MA, Franks IM (2003) Online versus offline processing of visual feedback in the production of component submovements. J Mot Behav 35:285–295

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khan MA, Lawrence G, Fourkas A, Franks IM, Elliott D, Pembroke S (2003) Online versus offline processing of visual feedback in the control of movement amplitude. Acta Psychol (Amst) 113:83–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meulenbroek RGJ, Thomassen A (1993) Exploitation of elasticity as a biomechanical property in the production of graphic stroke sequences. Acta Psychologica 82:313–327

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meulenbroek RGJ, Vinter A, Desbiez D (1998) Exploitation of elasticity in copying geometrical patterns: the role of age, movement amplitude, and limb-segment involvement. Acta Psychol (Amst) 99:329–345

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meulenbroek RGJ, Van Galen GP, Hulstijn M, Hulstijn W, Bloemsaat G (2005) Muscular co-contraction covaries with task load to control the flow of motion in fine motor tasks. Biol Psychol 68:331–352

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer DE, Abrams RA, Kornblum S, Wright CE, Smith JE (1988) Optimality in human motor performance: ideal control of rapid aimed movements. Psychol Rev 95:340–370

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Novak KE, Miller LE, Houk JC (2000) Kinematic properties of rapid hand movements in a knob turning task. Exp Brain Res 132:419–433

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pratt J, Chasteen AL, Abrams RA (1994) Rapid aimed limb movements: age differences and practice effects in component submovements. Psychol Aging 9:325–334

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rand MK, Stelmach GE, Bloedel JR (2000) Movement accuracy constraints in parkinson’s disease patients. Neuropsychologia 38:203–212

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sainburg RL, Poizner H, Ghez C (1993) Loss of proprioception produces deficits in interjoint coordination. J Neurophysiol 70:2136–2147

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sainburg RL, Ghilardi MF, Poizner H, Ghez C (1995) Control of limb dynamics in normal subjects and patients without proprioception. J Neurophysiol 73:820–835

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sainburg RL, Ghez C, Kalakanis D (1999) Intersegmental dynamics are controlled by sequential anticipatory, error correction, and postural mechanisms. J Neurophysiol 81:1045–1056

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saunders JA, Knill DC (2003) Humans use continuous visual feedback from the hand to control fast reaching movements. Exp Brain Res 152:341–352

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt RA, Zelaznik HN, Frank JS (1978) Sources of inaccuracy in rapid movements. In: Stelmach GE (ed) Information processing in motor control and learning. Academic, New York, pp 183–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt RA, Zelaznik H, Hawkins B, Frank JS, Quinn JT (1979) Motor-output variability: a theory for the accuracy of rapid motor acts. Psychol Rev 47:415–451

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schoner G (1990) A dynamic theory of coordination of discrete movement. Biol Cybern 63:257–270

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seidler Dobrin RD, Stelmach GE (1998) Persistence in visual feedback control by the elderly. Exp Brain Res 119:467–474

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smits-Engelsman BCM, Van Galen GP, Duysens J (2002) The breakdown of Fitts’ law in rapid, reciprocal aiming movements. Exp Brain Res 145:222–230

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sternad D, Dean WJ, Schaal S (2000) Interaction of rhythmic and discrete pattern generators in single-joint movements. Hum Mov Sci 19:627–664

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tunik E, Poizner H, Levin MF, Adamovich SV, Messier J, Lamarre Y, Feldman AG (2003) Arm-trunk coordination in the absence of proprioception. Exp Brain Res 153:343–355

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Galen GP, Dejong WP (1995) Fitts law as the outcome of a dynamic noise filtering model of motor control. Hum Mov Sci 14:539–571

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Galen GP, Schomaker LRB (1992) Fitts law as a low-pass filter effect of muscle-stiffness. Hum Mov Sci 11:11–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Galen GP, Van Huygevoort M (2000) Error, stress and the role of neuromotor noise in space oriented behaviour. Biol Psych 51:151–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker N, Philbin DA, Fisk AD (1997) Age-related differences in movement control: adjusting submovement structure to optimize performance. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 52:P40–P52

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Woodworth R (1899) The accuracy of voluntary movement. Psychol Rev Suppl 3:1–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Zelaznik HN, Hawkins B, Kisselburgh L (1983) Rapid visual feedback processing in single-aiming movements. J Motor Behavior 15:217–236

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge Dr. Ruud Meulenbroek and the anonymous reviewer for valuable comments on the earlier version of this paper and Dr. George Stelmach for providing equipment and lab space to facilitate this research. We also thank Siddarth Sharma for help with the data processing and some early figure renditions. The study was supported by NSF grant BCS 0213653 and NIH grant NS 43502 awarded to Dr. Natalia Dounskaia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 870404, Tempe, AZ, 85287-0404, USA

    Deric Wisleder & Natalia Dounskaia

Authors
  1. Deric Wisleder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Natalia Dounskaia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Natalia Dounskaia.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wisleder, D., Dounskaia, N. The role of different submovement types during pointing to a target. Exp Brain Res 176, 132–149 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-006-0603-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-006-0603-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation