title: A note on the speed-amplitude function in movement control.
abstract: An experiment is reported that documents the maximum average speed-amplitude relationship across the full range of motion for elbow flexion. Minimum movement time increased as a negative exponential within the movement range up to 94-97% of the maximum range of motion. At this point a discontinuity occurred with movement time increasing at an increasing rate probably due to anatomical and morphological constraints. These results suggest that the maximum average velocity-amplitude boundary to the movement speed-accuracy relationship is curvilinear. Kinematic analysis of the movements as a function of range of motion suggests that a simple pulse-step model of movement control cannot account for the present findings.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Child Behavior and Development, University of Illinois, Champaign 61820, USA.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Newell
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Hancock
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Robertson