Effects of task constraints on reaching kinematics by healthy adults

Percept Mot Skills. 2005 Jun;100(3 Pt 2):983-94. doi: 10.2466/pms.100.3c.983-994.

Abstract

Understanding the control of movement requires an awareness of how tasks constrain movements. The present study investigated the effects of two types of task constraints--spatial accuracy (effector size) and target location--on reaching kinematics. 15 right-handed healthy young adults (7 men, 8 women) whose mean age was 23.6 yr. (SD=3.9 yr.) performed the ringing task under six conditions, formed by the crossing of effector size (larger vs smaller size) and target location (left, right, or a central position). Significant main effects of effector size and target location were found for peak velocity and movement time. There was a significant interaction for the percentage of time to peak velocity. The findings suggested that task constraints may modulate movement performance in specific ways. Effects of effector size might be a consequence of feedforward and feedback control, and location effects might be influenced by both biomechanical and neurological factors.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Awareness*
  • Biomechanical Phenomena*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Male
  • Orientation*
  • Photography
  • Psychomotor Performance*
  • Reaction Time
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Size Perception*
  • Students, Medical / psychology
  • Taiwan