Idiosyncratic Errors in Visually Directed Reaching

Abstract

Subjects reaching with their eyes closed to visually presented targets missed their targets by an average of 4% of arm length; significant variation in the direction and magnitude of error arose from target location and idiosyncratic sources. The errors were largely unaffected by extreme variations in the arm's starting location. These data lend support to models of sensorimotor learning that focus on associations between postures and hand locations, but do not confirm a leading example of the class, exemplified by Kuperstein's (1988) circular reaction model.

Key Words:

• associative models
• ballistic reaching
• motor control