Top-level players' visual control of interceptive actions: Bootsma and van Wieringen (1990) 20 years later.

Abstract

Using a two-step approach, Van Soest et al. (2010) recently questioned the pertinence of the conclusions drawn by Bootsma and Van Wieringen (1990) with respect to the visual regulation of an exemplary rapid interceptive action: the attacking forehand drive in table tennis. In the first step, they experimentally compared the movement behaviors of their participants under conditions with and without vision available during the execution of the drive. In the second step, through simulation they evaluated the extent to which a preprogrammed pattern of muscle stimulation acting on the dynamical characteristics of the musculoskeletal system could explain the patterns of movement observed, including the phenomena of kinematic convergence and compensatory variability. In this contribution, we show how methodological and conceptual shortcomings, pertaining to both parts of Van Soest et al.'s study, severely limit the impact of their findings. We argue that their conclusion-denying the possibility of visual regulation of rapid interceptive actions-cannot be upheld in the light of the existing evidence, while Bootsma and Van Wieringen's conclusion-in favor of the visual regulation of rapid interceptive actions in top-level players- still holds strong, even after 20 years. Irrespective of the trends of the moment, we suggest that both appropriate experimentation and principled theorization need to be deployed before a model-based predictive architecture can be considered as a serious alternative to a (more parsimonious) information-based control architecture.

Hand interception of occluded motion in humans: a test of model-based vs. on-line control

“…In particular, two control schemes have been contrasted, the model-free on-line control and the model-based control. In the former scheme, extrapolation is based on continuous visual information about target kinematics, without any prior model of target motion (e.g., Arzamarski et al 2007;Bastin et al 2006;Baurès et al 2007;Bootsma and van Wieringen 1990;Bootsma et al 2010;Dessing et al 2002;Fink et al 2009;Jacobs and Michaels 2006;Ledouit et al 2013;Lee et al 1983;Lee 1998;Peper et al 1994;Warren 2006;Zhao and Warren 2015). In the latter scheme, instead, a prior model of target motion contributes to predict the future spatiotemporal trajectory (e.g., Battaglia et al 2013;de Rugy et al 2012;Franklin and Wolpert 2011;Gómez and López-Moliner 2013;Lacquaniti et al 1993;McIntyre et al 2001;Mischiati et al 2015;Mrotek and Soechting 2007;van Soest et al 2010;Zago et al 2004).…”

Revision of two test items of the dutch motor skills assessment measuring ball control in young table tennis players: a reproducibility and validity study

“…These conditions are related to the large variety of the flight and rotation of the upcoming ball, the player's intended return, playing styles and bat materials. High performance in table tennis strongly depends on visual perception and acuity, anticipation, and eye-hand coordination (Ak & Koçak, 2010;Akpinar, Devrilmez, & Kirazci, 2012;Bootsma, Fernandez, Morice, & Montagne, 2010;Faber, Oosterveld, & Nijhuis-Van der Sanden, 2014;Rodrigues, Vickers, & Williams, 2002). All skills need to be extremely well developed and perfectly integrated in stroke techniques, fast and flexible footwork, proper positioning, and balance control (German Table Tennis Association, 2008;Horsch, 1990).…”

Lower Arm Muscle Activation during Indirect-Localized Vibration: The Influence of Skill Levels When Applying Different Acceleration Loads

“…The ability to be fast and precise (in other words, “less variable”; Aune et al, 2008 ) during a performance requires superior neuromuscular control of movement, especially in the upper limbs (Bootsma et al, 2010 ), and also when considering the 100÷200-ms visuomotor delay (Van Soest et al, 1994 ). Contextually, in these intermittent activities performance may be limited either by potential mechanisms occurring within cortical regions or due to the neuromuscular properties of the peripheral contractile elements (Enoka, 2002 ; Girard and Millet, 2009 ).…”