MOTOR PROGRAMMING OF RESPONSE FORCE AND MOVEMENT DIRECTION

Effects of movement advance information were assessed on the prestimul us amplitude of the lateralized readiness potential (LRP), on the cont ingent negative variation (CNV), and on reaction time (RT). In a precu ing paradigm with movement parameters hand, direction, and force, part ial precues provided advance information about either hand alone, hand plus force, or hand plus direction, and the full precue specified all response parameters. The full precue produced the shortest RTs and th e largest CNV amplitude, precuing hand and force or hand and movement direction produced somewhat slower RTs and a somewhat smaller GNV ampl itude, and precuing only hand yielded slowest RTs and the smallest CNV amplitude. In contrast, the LRP amplitude was largest for the full pr ecue and was the same for the remaining precues. The CNV appears to in dex the central assembling of a motor program, and the LRP represents the implementation of the program at more peripheral levels.