Constraints for Action Selection: Overhand Versus Underhand Grips

Rosenbaum, David A.; Marchak, Frank M.; Barnes, Heather J.; Vaughan, Jonathan; Slotta, James D.; Jorgensen, Matthew J.

doi:10.4324/9780203772010-10

Cited by 145 publications

(147 citation statements)

References 1 publication

Supporting

Mentioning

140

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Similar observations were made in later studies [e.g. the ‘grasp height effect’ in which people grasp an object near its bottom when moving it higher, Rosenbaum et al (1990, 2014)].…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 84%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Factors influencing planning of a familiar grasp to an object: what it is to pick a cup

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We assessed the factors influencing the planning of actions required to manipulate one of two everyday objects with matching dimensions but openings at opposite ends: a cup and a vase. We found that, for cups, measures of movement preparation to reach and grasp the object were influenced by whether the grasp was made to the functional part of the object (wide opening) and whether the action would end in a supinated as opposed to a pronated grasp. These factors interacted such that effects of hand posture were found only when a less familiar grasp was made to the non-functional part of the cup (the base). These effects were not found with the vase, which has a less familiar location for grasping. We interpret the results in terms of a parallel model of action selection, modulated by both the familiarity of the grasp to a part of the object, likely to reflect object ‘affordances’ and the end state comfort of the action.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00221-017-4883-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

show abstract

“…Similar observations were made in later studies [e.g. the ‘grasp height effect’ in which people grasp an object near its bottom when moving it higher, Rosenbaum et al (1990, 2014)].…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…One factor is the end state comfort effect, originally reported by Rosenbaum and colleagues (1990, 1992, 1996, 2012, 2014). This effect describes the choice people make when grasping an object to start their action uncomfortably, so that they reach a comfortable posture at the end.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors influencing planning of a familiar grasp to an object: what it is to pick a cup

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Tool use, such as wielding a hammer, involves cognitive components for planning actions adaptively (Keen, 2011; Rosenbaum et al, 1990). For example, adults typically grasp a water glass with their thumb pointing up.…”

Section: Planning In Children and Adultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The development of tool use: Planning for end-state comfort.

Comalli¹,

Keen²,

Abraham³

et al. 2016

Developmental Psychology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Some grips on the handle of a tool can be planned based on information directly available in the scene. Other grips, however, must be planned based on the final position of the hand. “End-state comfort” grips require an awkward or uncomfortable initial grip so as to later implement the action comfortably and efficiently. From a cognitive perspective, planning for end-state comfort requires a consistent representation of the entire action sequence, including the latter part, which is not based on information directly available in the scene. Many investigators have found that young children fail to demonstrate planning for end-state comfort and that adult-like performance does not appear until about 12 years of age. In two experiments, we used a hammering task that engaged children in a goal-directed action with multiple steps. We assessed end-state-comfort planning in novel ways by measuring children’s hand choice, grip choice, and tool implementation over multiple trials. The hammering task also uniquely allowed us to assess the efficiency of implementation. We replicated the previous developmental trend in 4-, 8-, and 12-year-old children with our novel task. Most important, our data revealed that 4-year-olds are in a transitional stage with several competing strategies exhibited during a single session. Preschoolers changed their grip within trials and across trials, indicating awareness of errors and a willingness to sacrifice speed for more efficient implementation. The end-state-comfort grip initially competes as one grip type among many, but gradually displaces all others. Children’s sensitivity to and drive for efficiency may motivate this change.

show abstract

“…Adults consistently choose unconventional or awkward starting positions that allow for a comfortable ending position for a future action—the so-called “end-state comfort” effect (Rosenbaum, Chapman, Weigelt, Weiss, & van der Wel, 2012; Rosenbaum et al, 1990). Adults plan their next locomotor action by taking an initially awkward step when crossing stepping-stones to ensure that they can easily avoid an obstacle on a subsequent step (Cowie, Smith, & Braddick, 2010).…”

Section: Selecting Which Action To Domentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Adults regularly plan for their end state posture—by enduring an awkward initial state to ensure a comfortable end state during implementation—when performing manual (Rosenbaum et al, 2012) and locomotor actions (Cowie et al, 2010). For example, adults use an awkward thumb-down grip to pick up an overturned glass so that the end-state has a comfortable and stable thumb-up grip for filling the glass with water (Rosenbaum, et al, 1990). …”

Section: Experiments 4: Ending In a Crawling Positionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Motor decisions are not black and white: selecting actions in the “gray zone”

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In many situations, multiple actions are possible to achieve a goal. How do people select a particular action among equally possible alternatives? In six experiments, we determined whether action selection is consistent and biased toward one decision by observing participants’ decisions to go over or under a horizontal bar set at varying heights. We assessed the height at which participants transitioned from going over to under the bar within a “gray zone”—the range of bar heights at which going over and under were both possible. In Experiment 1, participants’ transition points were consistently located near the upper boundary of the gray zone, indicating a bias to go over rather than under the bar. Moreover, transitional behaviors were clustered tightly into a small region, indicating that decisions were highly consistent. Subsequent experiments examined potential influences on action selection. In Experiment 2, participants wore ankle weights to increase the cost of going over the bar. In Experiment 3, they were tested on a padded surface that made crawling under the bar more comfortable. In Experiment 4, we introduced a secondary task that required participants to crawl immediately after navigating the bar. None of these manipulations altered participants’ decisions relative to Experiment 1. In Experiment 5, participants started in a crawling position, which led to significantly lower transition points. In Experiment 6, we tested 5- to 6-year-old children as in Experiment 1 to determine the effects of social pressure on action selection. Children displayed lower transition points, larger transition regions, and reduced ability to go over the bar compared to adults. Across experiments, results indicate that adults have a strong and robust bias for upright locomotion.

show abstract

Constraints for Action Selection: Overhand Versus Underhand Grips

Cited by 145 publications

References 1 publication

Factors influencing planning of a familiar grasp to an object: what it is to pick a cup

Factors influencing planning of a familiar grasp to an object: what it is to pick a cup

The development of tool use: Planning for end-state comfort.

Motor decisions are not black and white: selecting actions in the “gray zone”

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About