Action Goal Selection and Motor Planning Can Be Dissociated by Tool Use

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Action Goal Selection and Motor Planning Can Be Dissociated by Tool Use
Language: English
Authors: Collins, Therese, Schicke, Tobias, Roder, Brigitte
Source: Cognition. Dec 2008 109(3):363-371.
Availability: Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: usjcs@elsevier.com; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Physical Description: PDF
Page Count: 9
Publication Date: 2008
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Visual Discrimination, Eye Movements, Visual Perception, Human Body, Psychomotor Skills, Cognitive Processes
DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2008.10.001
ISSN: 0010-0277
Abstract: The preparation of eye or hand movements enhances visual perception at the upcoming movement end position. The spatial location of this influence of action on perception could be determined either by goal selection or by motor planning. We employed a tool use task to dissociate these two alternatives. The instructed goal location was a visual target to which participants pointed with the tip of a triangular hand-held tool. The motor endpoint was defined by the final fingertip position necessary to bring the tool tip onto the goal. We tested perceptual performance at both locations (tool tip endpoint, motor endpoint) with a visual discrimination task. Discrimination performance was enhanced in parallel at both spatial locations, but not at nearby and intermediate locations, suggesting that both action goal selection and motor planning contribute to visual perception. In addition, our results challenge the widely held view that tools extend the body schema and suggest instead that tool use enhances perception at those precise locations which are most relevant during tool action: the body part used to manipulate the tool, and the active tool tip. (Contains 4 figures.)
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2008
Accession Number: EJ819417
Database: ERIC
Be the first to leave a comment!
You must be logged in first