Parallel learning processes of a visuomotor adaptation task in a changing environment

Abstract

During the control of reaching movements, a key contribution of the visual system is the localization of relevant environmental targets. In motor adaptation processes, the visual evaluation of effector motor behavior enables learning from errors, which demands continuous visual attentional focus. However, most current adaptation paradigms include static targets; therefore, when a learning situation develops in a highly variable environment and there is a double demand for visual resources (environment and motor performance), the evolution of learning processes is unknown. In order to understand how learning processes evolve in a variable environment, a video game task was designed in which subjects were asked to manage a 60° counterclockwise‐rotated cursor to capture descending targets with initially unpredictable trajectories. During the task, the cursor and eye movements were recorded to dissect visuomotor coordination. We observed that the pursuit of the targets conditioned a predominant and continuous visual inspection of the environment instead of the rotated cursor. As learning progressed, subjects exhibited a linear reduction in directional error and selected a motor strategy based on the degree of reward, which improved the performance. These results suggest that when the environment demands high visual attention, error‐based and reinforced motor learning processes are implemented simultaneously, thus enabling efficient predictive behavior.

Event-related (de)synchronization and potential in whole vs. part sensorimotor learning

“…This difference in activity peaks may be related to the transition from reactive to anticipatory control and the role of visual and motor regions in implementing such a transition. It is well-documented that during kinematic adaptation tasks, a better adaptation is represented by an anticipatory visuomotor control of the effectors ( Sailer, 2005 ; Mariman et al, 2019 ). Therefore, the better performance exhibited here by the Whole group, as well as its previously reported visuomotor component, could also be explained by a more advanced anticipatory control ( Burgos et al, 2018 ), which is related to differences in the amplitude and timing of the motor ERP.…”

The policy of testing hypotheses in Chilean science. The role of a hypothesis-driven research funding programme in the installation of a hypothesis-driven experimental system in visual neuroscience

“…Moreover, a cursory look at the laboratory's subsequent activities reveals that free-viewing as experimental system eventually had a very productive life since the initial research funded by the FONDECYT grant from 1998-2001. During the following 20 years, the work in free-viewing was developed in its theoretical (Maldonado 2007;Maldonado, Ossandón, and Flores 2009), its experimental (Maldonado et al 2008;Ossandón et al 2010;Ito et al 2011;Berger et al 2012;Ito, Maldonado, and Gruen 2013;Montefusco-Siegmund, Maldonado, and Devia 2013;Ito et al 2017;Astudillo, Muñoz, and Maldonado 2018;Montefusco-Siegmund et al 2018;Mariman, Burgos, and Maldonado 2019) and applied dimensions (Loyola et al 2015;Fajnzylber et al 2017;Vasquez-Rosati et al 2017;Vera et al 2017;Fajnzylber et al 2018;Gajardo, Madariaga, and Maldonado 2019). From 2020 on, the laboratory has three new principal investigators in addition to Pedro Maldonado.…”