title: Limits of end-state planning.
abstract: The end-state comfort effect is the tendency to use an uncomfortable initial grasp posture for object manipulation if this leads to a comfortable final posture. Many studies have replicated the end-state comfort effect across a range of tasks and conditions. However, these tasks had in common that they involved relatively simple movements, such as picking up a dowel or sliding a pan from one place to another. Here we asked whether the end-state comfort effect extends to more complex tasks. We asked participants to grasp a transparent bowl and move the bowl to an instructed location, positioning it in an instructed orientation. We either found an initial-state comfort effect or equal degrees of comfort for end-grasps and start-grasps depending on task instructions. The end-state comfort effect was not consistently observed. The results suggest that the end-state comfort effect may be restricted to relatively simple grasping movements.
authors: School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, UK. Electronic address: Frouke.hermens@gmail.com.
authors: Frouke
authors: F
authors: Hermens
authors: School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, UK.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Kral
authors: Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, USA.
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Rosenbaum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Arm movements; End-state comfort effect; Grasping