Grasping for parsimony: do some motor actions escape dorsal processing?

Abstract

It is an open question whether the visual transformations guiding human actions are similar to those generating visual perception. The Action-Perception model assumes a strict division of labor: the ventral cortical stream generates perception while the dorsal stream guides actions. However, only skilled and natural actions are assumed to be under dorsal control, while awkward and left-handed actions should be under ventral control in the same way as perception. Here, we used a combination of Garner-Interference and the psychological refractory period (PRP) paradigm to test this notion. We found that all types of grasping (left-handed, awkward, using a tool) behave in a way similar to skilled right-handed grasping: other than perception they show no Garner-Interference, but similar to perception they show a limitation of processing capacities as indicated by the PRP paradigm. This behavior suggests that similar processes guide all these actions.