Control of interceptive actions is based on expectancy of time to target arrival

Exp Brain Res. 2009 Nov;199(2):135-43. doi: 10.1007/s00221-009-1987-y. Epub 2009 Aug 25.

Abstract

In this study the hypothesis that interceptive movements are controlled on the basis of expectancy of time to target arrival was tested. The study was conducted through assessment of temporal errors and kinematics of interceptive movements to a moving virtual target. Initial target velocity was kept unchanged in part of the trials, and in the others it was decreased 300 ms before the due time of target arrival at the interception position, increasing in 100 ms time to target arrival. Different probabilities of velocity decrease ranging from 25 to 100% were compared. The results revealed that while there were increasing errors between probabilities of 25 and 75% for unchanged target velocity, the opposite relationship was observed for target velocity decrease. Kinematic analysis indicated that movement timing adjustments to target velocity decrease were made online. These results support the conception that visuomotor integration in the interception of moving targets is mediated by an internal forward model whose weights can be flexibly adjusted according to expectancy of time to target arrival.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / physiology
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Executive Function / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Judgment / physiology*
  • Male
  • Motion Perception / physiology*
  • Movement / physiology*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Orientation / physiology
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Probability
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Space Perception / physiology*
  • Time Factors
  • Time Perception / physiology*
  • Young Adult