Specificity of Learning in a Video-Aiming Task: Modifying the Salience of Dynamic Visual Cues

The authors investigated whether the salience of dynamic visual information in a video-aiming task mediates the specificity of practice. Thirty participants practiced video-aiming movements in a full-vision, a weak-vision, or a target-only condition before being transferred to the target-only condition without knowledge of results. The full- and weak-vision conditions resulted in less endpoint bias and variability in acquisition than did the target-only condition. Going from acquisition to transfer resulted in a large increase in endpoint variability for the full-vision group but not for the weak-vision or target-only groups. Kinematic analysis revealed that weak dynamic visual cues do not mask the processing of other sources of afferent information; unlike strong visual cues, weak visual cues help individuals calibrate less salient sources of afferent information, such as proprioception.

[1]  Luc Proteau,et al.  Developmental aspects of the control of manual aiming movements in aligned and non-aligned visual displays , 2002, Experimental Brain Research.

[2]  P. Viviani,et al.  Frames of reference and control parameters in visuomanual pointing. , 1998, Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance.

[3]  L. Proteau.  Sensory integration in the learning of an aiming task. , 1995, Canadian journal of experimental psychology = Revue canadienne de psychologie experimentale.

[4]  H Carnahan,et al.  What Causes Specificity of Practice in a Manual Aiming Movement: Vision Dominance or Transformation Errors? , 2001, Journal of motor behavior.

[5]  P. Fitts.  The information capacity of the human motor system in controlling the amplitude of movement. , 1954, Journal of experimental psychology.

[6]  L Tremblay,et al.  Specificity of practice: the case of powerlifting. , 1998, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[7]  Yann Coello,et al.  Determination of target distance in a structured environment: Selection of visual information for action , 2000 .

[8]  L. Proteau.  Chapter 4 On The Specificity of Learning and the Role of Visual Information for Movement Control , 1992 .

[9]  Scott T. Grafton,et al.  Forward modeling allows feedback control for fast reaching movements , 2000, Trends in Cognitive Sciences.

[10]  H. Zelaznik,et al.  Motor-output variability: a theory for the accuracy of rapid motor acts. , 1979, Psychological review.

[11]  L. Proteau.  Visual afferent information dominates other sources of afferent information during mixed practice of a video-aiming task , 2005, Experimental Brain Research.

[12]  D Elliott,et al.  Examining the Specificity of Practice Hypothesis: Is Learning Modality Specific? , 2001, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[13]  L. Proteau,et al.  The role of peripheral and central visual information for the directional control of manual aiming movements. , 1999, Canadian journal of experimental psychology = Revue canadienne de psychologie experimentale.

[14]  Luc Proteau,et al.  Planning and control of straight-ahead and angled planar movements in adults and young children. , 2004, Canadian journal of experimental psychology = Revue canadienne de psychologie experimentale.

[15]  R A Abrams,et al.  Optimality in human motor performance: ideal control of rapid aimed movements. , 1988, Psychological review.

[16]  Matthew Heath,et al.  The control of goal-directed limb movements: Correcting errors in the trajectory , 1999 .

[17]  M. Jeannerod,et al.  Representation of hand position prior to movement and motor variability. , 1995, Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology.

[18]  P. Bédard,et al.  On-line vs. off-line utilization of peripheral visual afferent information to ensure spatial accuracy of goal-directed movements , 2004, Experimental Brain Research.

[19]  Zoubin Ghahramani,et al.  Computational principles of movement neuroscience , 2000, Nature Neuroscience.

[20]  F. Lacquaniti,et al.  Short-Term Memory for Reaching to Visual Targets: Psychophysical Evidence for Body-Centered Reference Frames , 1998, The Journal of Neuroscience.

[21]  L. Proteau,et al.  Development of Multiple Movement Representations With Practice: Specificity Versus Flexibility , 2001, Journal of motor behavior.

[22]  James L. Lyons,et al.  Optimal Control Strategies Under Different Feedback Schedules: Kinematic Evidence , 2002, Journal of motor behavior.

[23]  L. Proteau,et al.  On the Role of Visual Afferent Information for the Control of Aiming Movements Toward Targets of Different Sizes , 2002, Journal of motor behavior.

[24]  Scott T. Grafton,et al.  Role of the posterior parietal cortex in updating reaching movements to a visual target , 1999, Nature Neuroscience.