Perceptual-motor exploration as a function of biomechanical and task constraints. 1995

P V McDonald, and S K Oliver, and K M Newell
KRUG Life Sciences, Houston, TX 77058.

Four experiments are reported that were designed to examine perceptual-motor exploration employed in determining the solution to a dual-axis positioning task under various biomechanical and task constraints. Experiments 1, 2, and 3 used the two elbow joints to examine the impact of varying several geometric features of the relation between visual information and action in this task. Experiment 4 examined the use of within-limb, between-limb, and within-joint axes of motion in a similar task. The exploratory process was analyzed using a symbolic dynamic defined over nominal categories of visual information and actions elicited by the performer. The search strategy used to improve task performance was consistent across all the experimental manipulations imposed. The frequency pattern of nominal action categories demonstrated a preference for single-axis activity except in the within-joint condition which exhibited a preference for dual-axis activity. The pattern of preferred transitions among these action categories was also consistent across conditions, and lag sequential analysis revealed a robust tendency for cyclical activity in that opposite actions were often coupled in sequence. The topologically equivalent (extrinsic geometry) task spaces led to qualitatively similar search strategies when considered at the level of action-information interaction (intrinsic geometry). The physical implementation of this strategy was strongly influenced by the biomechanical constraints of the action system, while the manipulations of the geometric features of the action-information relation served only to influence the quantitative properties of performance outcome.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007699 Kinesthesis Sense of movement of a part of the body, such as movement of fingers, elbows, knees, limbs, or weights. Kinesthesia,Kinesthetic Sense,Movement Sensation,Kinestheses,Kinesthesias,Kinesthetic Senses,Movement Sensations
D007839 Functional Laterality Behavioral manifestations of cerebral dominance in which there is preferential use and superior functioning of either the left or the right side, as in the preferred use of the right hand or right foot. Ambidexterity,Behavioral Laterality,Handedness,Laterality of Motor Control,Mirror Writing,Laterality, Behavioral,Laterality, Functional,Mirror Writings,Motor Control Laterality,Writing, Mirror,Writings, Mirror
D008297 Male Males
D009949 Orientation Awareness of oneself in relation to time, place and person. Cognitive Orientation,Mental Orientation,Psychological Orientation,Cognitive Orientations,Mental Orientations,Orientation, Cognitive,Orientation, Mental,Orientation, Psychological,Orientations,Orientations, Cognitive,Orientations, Mental,Orientations, Psychological,Psychological Orientations
D011340 Problem Solving A learning situation involving more than one alternative from which a selection is made in order to attain a specific goal.
D011597 Psychomotor Performance The coordination of a sensory or ideational (cognitive) process and a motor activity. Perceptual Motor Performance,Sensory Motor Performance,Visual Motor Coordination,Coordination, Visual Motor,Coordinations, Visual Motor,Motor Coordination, Visual,Motor Coordinations, Visual,Motor Performance, Perceptual,Motor Performance, Sensory,Motor Performances, Perceptual,Motor Performances, Sensory,Perceptual Motor Performances,Performance, Perceptual Motor,Performance, Psychomotor,Performance, Sensory Motor,Performances, Perceptual Motor,Performances, Psychomotor,Performances, Sensory Motor,Psychomotor Performances,Sensory Motor Performances,Visual Motor Coordinations
D004551 Elbow Joint A hinge joint connecting the FOREARM to the ARM. Elbow Joints,Joint, Elbow,Joints, Elbow
D005106 Exploratory Behavior The tendency to explore or investigate a novel environment. It is considered a motivation not clearly distinguishable from curiosity. Curiosity,Novelty-Seeking Behavior,Behavior, Exploratory,Behavior, Novelty-Seeking,Behaviors, Exploratory,Behaviors, Novelty-Seeking,Curiosities,Exploratory Behaviors,Novelty Seeking Behavior,Novelty-Seeking Behaviors
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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