Representation of movement sequences is related to task characteristics. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Recent experiments have produced mixed results in terms of performance when, after learning a sequential task, the same visual-spatial coordinates or the same motor coordinates were reinstated on a subsequent effector transfer test. Given the diversity of tasks and especially sequence characteristics used in previous experiments, the cross-experimental comparison makes inferences and unambiguous interpretations difficult. The purpose of the present experiment was to determine in a principled manner how the spatio-temporal structure of a sequence influences the way the sequence is represented. The results indicated that after limited amount of practice relatively more simple sequences (S1) are coded more efficiently in a mirror (motor) representation which requires the same pattern of homologous muscle activation. Conversely, relatively more complex sequences (S2) are more efficiently coded in a visual-spatial coordinate system which requires movements to the same spatial locations as during acquisition. The data are also consistent with the notion that sequences with different spatio-temporal structures rely to a different degree on distinct control mechanisms (pre-planned vs. on-line, respectively).

published proceedings

  • Acta Psychol (Amst)

author list (cited authors)

  • Kovacs, A. J., Han, D., & Shea, C. H.

citation count

  • 27

complete list of authors

  • Kovacs, Attila J||Han, Dong-Wook||Shea, Charles H

publication date

  • January 2009