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Article
Posture based motor planning in a sequential task
Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition
  • Breanna E. Studenka, Utah State University
  • Christian Seegelke, Bielefeld University
  • Christoph Schütza, Bielefeld University
  • Thomas Schack, Bielefeld
Document Type
Article
Publisher
Elsevier
Publication Date
6-1-2012
Disciplines
Abstract

Movement planning in sequential tasks is revealed by grasping postures. We explored aspects of planning a sequential drawer opening and object manipulation task with regard to arm and torso postures. We conducted a detailed kinematic analysis of joint postures at the wrist, elbow, and shoulder for a one-grasp and a two-grasp sequence of movement. The second of the two-grasp sequence was constrained (uncomfortable). We predicted that planning for the second grasp in a two-grasp sequence would influence arm, torso, and whole-body postures at the first grasp. Participants prepared for the second grasp by adjusting the posture of the elbow and shoulder and the distance they stepped to the drawer. The joint postures at the elbow and shoulder changed in the direction of the intended object grasp. These findings show that anticipatory adjustments are revealed at postures other than the end-effector and lend insight into the mechanisms of sequential movement planning.

Citation Information
Studenka, B. E., Seegelke, C., Schuetz, C., & Schack, T. (2012). Posture based motor planning in a sequential task. Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, 1, 89-95.