The effect of expectations on hitting moving targets: influence of the preceding target's speed

When hitting a target that is moving, the time for planning the interceptio n is limited. Instead of waiting for all the necessary information about th e target's position and speed before starting to move, subjects could use t heir previous experience with similar targets to make initial guesses and a djust as new information becomes available. In the present study we examine d whether the speed of the preceding target influences a hitting movement. Subjects hit moving targets that appeared on a screen about 40 cm in front of them. The targets moved at 6, 12 or 18 cm/s. Both the hand's initial mov ement direction and the final hitting error depended on the speed of the pr eceding target. We conclude that people control the way they hit moving tar gets on the basis of the speed of the preceding target.