title: Action plan co-optimization reveals the parallel encoding of competing reach movements.
abstract: Several influential cognitive theories propose that in situations affording more than one possible target of action, we prepare multiple competing movements before selecting one. Here we provide direct evidence for this provocative but largely untested idea and demonstrate why preparing multiple movements is computationally advantageous. Using a reaching task in which movements are initiated after one of two potential targets is cued, we show that the movement generated for the cued target borrows components of the movement that would have been required for the other, competing target. This interaction can only arise if multiple potential movements are fully specified in advance and we demonstrate that it reduces the time required to launch a given action plan. Our findings suggest that this co-optimization of motor plans is highly automatic and largely occurs outside conscious awareness.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada [2] Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada.
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gallivan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada.
authors.forename: Kathryn S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Alberta, T6G 2H9, Canada.
authors.forename: Craig S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Wolpert
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada [2] Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada.
authors.forename: J Randall
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Flanagan
mesh_terms: D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult