title: Representation of movement sequences is related to task characteristics.
abstract: Recent experiments have produced mixed results in terms of performance when, after learning a sequential task, the same visual-spatial coordinates or the same motor coordinates were reinstated on a subsequent effector transfer test. Given the diversity of tasks and especially sequence characteristics used in previous experiments, the cross-experimental comparison makes inferences and unambiguous interpretations difficult. The purpose of the present experiment was to determine in a principled manner how the spatio-temporal structure of a sequence influences the way the sequence is represented. The results indicated that after limited amount of practice relatively more simple sequences (S1) are coded more efficiently in a mirror (motor) representation which requires the same pattern of homologous muscle activation. Conversely, relatively more complex sequences (S2) are more efficiently coded in a visual-spatial coordinate system which requires movements to the same spatial locations as during acquisition. The data are also consistent with the notion that sequences with different spatio-temporal structures rely to a different degree on distinct control mechanisms (pre-planned vs. on-line, respectively).
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4243, USA.
authors.forename: Attila J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.forename: Dong-Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Shea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012691:Serial Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D014163:Transfer, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*