METABOLIC ENERGY-EXPENDITURE AND THE REGULATION OF MOVEMENT ECONOMY

Over the years, various psychological theories have embraced notions o f economy, efficiency, or least effort to explain how complex movement sequences are organized and modified. The purpose of the present pape r was to synthesize various perspectives on this issue, to identify a common hypothesis, and to propose a conceptual framework that explains how movement economy is regulated. The framework presented here postu lates that adaptive movement patterns emerge as a function of the orga nism's propensity to minimize metabolic energy expenditure with respec t to task, environment, and organism constraints to action. An importa nt role is also proposed for interoceptive sensory information in guid ing motor skill learning and control. The paper concludes by suggestin g future directions in four areas of movement economy research that co ntribute to understanding the learning and control of movement in both human and nonhuman organisms.