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Comparative Study
. 2007 Nov 21;27(47):12839-43.
doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3110-07.2007.

Can the human brain predict the consequences of arm movement corrections when transporting an object? Hints from grip force adjustments

Frédéric Danion  1 , Fabrice R Sarlegna
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Can the human brain predict the consequences of arm movement corrections when transporting an object? Hints from grip force adjustments

Frédéric Danion et al. J Neurosci. .

Abstract

It is well established that motor prediction is crucial for many of our daily actions. However, it is still unclear whether the brain generates motor prediction in real time. To challenge this idea, grip force was monitored while subjects had to transport a hand-held object to a visual target that could move unexpectedly. In agreement with previous reports, subjects triggered fast arm movement corrections to bring the object to the new target location. In addition, we found that subjects initiated grip force adjustments before or in synchrony with arm movement corrections. Throughout the movement, grip force anticipated the mechanical consequences resulting from arm motion, even when it was substantially corrected. Moreover, the predictive control of grip force did not interfere with the on-line control of arm trajectory. Altogether, our results suggest that motor prediction is an automatic, real-time process operating during movement execution and correction.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Experimental setup in the grasp session.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Average load and grip force trajectories during the 16 and 16 → 24 cm conditions for a representative subject in the grasp session. A and C present normalized force as a function of time. B and D present normalized phase portraits of force trajectories (force rate vs force). White circles show when the force trajectories start to differ significantly. AU, Arbitrary units.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Ensemble average grip and load force profiles during unperturbed (16 cm only) and perturbed (16 → 24 and 16 → 8 cm) trials in grasp and no grasp sessions.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Grip force and load force coordination during a 16 → 24 cm target jump in the grasp session (averaged signals for a representative subject). A, Temporal evolution of normalized grip and load force trajectories. B, Temporal evolution of the lag between grip and load force. A negative value of the lag indicates that grip force precedes load force. Note that this is actually the case throughout movement execution. AU, Arbitrary units.
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