Evaluation of a mixed controller that amplifies spatial errors while reducing timing errors

Previous results suggest that haptic guidance enhances learning of the timing components of motor tasks, whereas error amplification is better for learning the spatial components. In this paper we evaluate a novel mixed guidance controller that combines haptic guidance and error amplification to simultaneously promote learning of the timing and spatial components. The controller is realized using a saddle-like force field around the desired movement position. This force field has a stable manifold tangential to the trajectory that guides subjects in velocity related aspects. The force field has its unstable manifold perpendicular to the trajectory, which amplifies the normal (spatial) error. We conducted an experiment with twenty nine healthy subjects to test whether training with the mixed guidance controller resulted in better learning than training without guidance or with guidance-as-needed. Subjects trained two tasks: a continuous rhythmic task (circle) and a continuous single task (line). We found that the effectiveness of the training strategy depended on the task. Training with mixed guidance was especially beneficial for learning the timing components of the line, but limited learning of the circle. Perhaps the continuous change in the force directions during training of the circle was too difficult to interpret.