PRACTICE AND COMPONENT SUBMOVEMENTS - THE ROLES OF PROGRAMMING AND FEEDBACK IN RAPID AIMED LIMB MOVEMENTS

An experiment is reported in which subjects (N = 30) practiced rapid a imed limb movements (wrist rotations), with either full visual feedbac k, no visual feedback, or delayed visual feedback. Previous research h as indicated that, with practice, subjects increase the distance and d uration of ballistic primary sub-movements and decrease the distance a nd duration of corrective secondary submovements. The design of the pr esent experiment permitted the determination of whether these practice -related changes are results of improved programming of the primary su b-movement or of more efficient processing involved in the production of secondary submovements. The results suggest that improved programmi ng occurs with practice. Furthermore, it appears that visual feedback is not solely responsible for the production of secondary submovements .