Use of Distance and Location in Short-Term Motor Memory

Abstract

A retroactive interference paradigm was used to determine whether kinesthetic distance, location, or distance and location cues are used at recall of a blind, simple linear movement. Students performed interpolated movements which varied distance and location cues separately or jointly. Relative to a rest condition, joint distance and location interpolation produced significant interference while no significant interference was found for interpolation of individual distance or location. The results were interpreted as supporting the involvement of multiple kinesthetic cues in the establishment of memorial representations of motor movements.

Effects of Presentation- and Test-Trial Training on Motor Acquisition and Retention

“…Third, training was restricted to the kinesthetic cue of distance. Although multiple cues underlie the recall of positioning movements (Hagman & Williams, 1977;Gundry, 1975), training was restricted to the specific cue of distance to prevent the possibility of unsystematic subject selection of individual cues and the possibility that certain cues might react differently to p-and t-trial repetition because of their differential retention characteristics (Laabs, 1973;Posner, 1967).…”

Specific-cue effects of interpolated movements on distance and location retention in short-term motor memory

“…When learning strategies are allowed to vary, multiple cues can be encoded (e.g., Gundry, 1975). In these situations, a multiple-cue hypothesis can account for interpolated movement effects (Hagman & Williams, 1977). The present study demonstrates that students are able to apply a specificcue retention strategy when directed to by way of learning instructions.…”

“…A number of additional results were found that are consistent with earlier findings. The main effect of original movement length was significant [F(1,140) = 43.32, P < .05] and revealed a central tendency effect (also called the range effect) where the short original movement was overshot and the long original movement was undershot at recall (e.g., Hagman & Williams, 1977). Although this central tendency effect was present for both distance and location recall, it was more pronounced with distance as evidenced by the significant Criterion Length by Cue Recalled interaction [F(1 ,140) =18.42, P < .05].…”

“…As support for the multiple-cue hypothesis, Hagman and Williams (1977) have reported that interference from interpolated movements was based upon the number of kinesthetic cues varied at interpolation. However, they allowed subjects to process multiple cues at original movement execution.…”

Effects of Presentation- and Test-Trial Training on Acquisition and Retention of Movement End-Location

“…Although multiple cues (such as distance, end-location and force) underlie the recall of positioning movements (Hagman & Williams, 1977;Gundry, 1975), training was restricted to the specific cue of endlocation to prevent both the possibility of unsystematic participant selection of individual cues during training and the possibility that certain cues might react differently to p-and t-trial repetition because of their differential retention characteristics (Laabs, 1973;Posner, 1967).…”