Reach Corrections Toward Moving Objects are Faster Than Reach Corrections Toward Instantaneously Switching Targets

Sasha Reschechtko; Cynthiya Gnanaseelan; J Andrew Pruszynski

doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.06.021

Reach Corrections Toward Moving Objects are Faster Than Reach Corrections Toward Instantaneously Switching Targets

Neuroscience. 2023 Aug 21:526:135-143. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.06.021. Epub 2023 Jun 28.

Authors

Sasha Reschechtko¹, Cynthiya Gnanaseelan², J Andrew Pruszynski³

Affiliations

¹ School of Exercise & Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, 351 ENS Building, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA 92182, USA; Western BrainsCAN, Western University, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; Robarts Research Institute, Western University, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Western University, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada. Electronic address: sreschechechtko@sdsu.edu.
² Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Western University, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada.
³ Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; Robarts Research Institute, Western University, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Western University, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; Department of Psychology, Western University, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada.

PMID: 37391122
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.06.021

Abstract

Visually guided reaching is a common motor behavior that engages subcortical circuits to mediate rapid corrections. Although these neural mechanisms have evolved for interacting with the physical world, they are often studied in the context of reaching toward virtual targets on a screen. These targets often change position by disappearing from one place reappearing in another instantaneously. In this study, we instructed participants to perform rapid reaches to physical objects that changed position in different ways. In one condition, the objects moved very rapidly from one place to another. In the other condition, illuminated targets instantaneously switched position by being extinguished in one position and illuminating in another. Participants were consistently faster in correcting their reach trajectories when the object moved continuously.

Keywords: kinematics; reach correction; target movement; upper limb; visual processing.

MeSH terms

Humans
Movement*
Psychomotor Performance*