Internal models and prediction of visual gravitational motion.
Baurès et al. [Baurès, R., Benguigui, N., Amorim, M.-A., & Siegler, I. A. (2007). Intercepting free falling objects: Better use Occam's razor than internalize Newton's law. Vision Research, 47, 2982-2991] rejected the hypothesis that free-falling objects are intercepted using a predictive model of gravity. They argued instead for "a continuous guide for action timing" based on visual information updated till target capture. Here we show that their arguments are flawed, because they fail to consider the impact of sensori-motor delays on interception behaviour and the need for neural compensation of such delays. When intercepting a free-falling object, the delays can be overcome by a predictive model of the effects of gravity on target motion.
Zago
Myrka
M
Laboratory of Human Neurophysiology, Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy. m.zago@hsantalucia.it <m.zago@hsantalucia.it>
McIntyre
Joseph
J
Senot
Patrice
P
Lacquaniti
Francesco
F
D018466:Gravity Sensing; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009039:Motion Perception; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011601:Psychophysics