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Behavioral Analysis of Movement

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Abstract

The sections in this article are:

1 Single‐Movement Control
1.1 Fitts' Law
1.2 Theoretical Interpretations of Single‐Movement Control
1.3 Summary of Single‐Movement Control
2 Representation of Complex Motor Patterns
2.1 Human Evidence for a Program Concept
2.2 Constraints on Coordination
2.3 Summary and Conclusions
Figure 1. Figure 1.

Monkey moves head toward a light shown 40° away and then removed. Movement is unimpeded, retarded briefly by a spring, or occurs with a weight added to head. A, B, C: representative movement as function of time for monkeys with kinesthesis; D, E, F: movement without neck kinesthesis.

Adapted from Bizzi et al. 6
Figure 2. Figure 2.

On signal, subjects name between 1 and 4 words as rapidly as possible. A: reaction time (latency) between response signal and onset of speech. B: duration of speech from onset of speech to offset.

From Sternberg 82
Figure 3. Figure 3.

Time between successive key‐press responses as function of position within a 9‐light sequence. A: subjects respond in accordance with a memorized time structure. B. subjects respond as rapidly as possible with no concern for the previously memorized time structure.

Adapted from Summers 84
Figure 4. Figure 4.

Performance in repetitively lifting weights by either wrist extension or flexion as a function of direction of gaze and number of bouts of lifting. Performance is measured as percentage of amount lifted on first bout.

Adapted from Hellebrandt et al. 28, © 1956 The Williams & Wilkins Co., Baltimore


Figure 1.

Monkey moves head toward a light shown 40° away and then removed. Movement is unimpeded, retarded briefly by a spring, or occurs with a weight added to head. A, B, C: representative movement as function of time for monkeys with kinesthesis; D, E, F: movement without neck kinesthesis.

Adapted from Bizzi et al. 6


Figure 2.

On signal, subjects name between 1 and 4 words as rapidly as possible. A: reaction time (latency) between response signal and onset of speech. B: duration of speech from onset of speech to offset.

From Sternberg 82


Figure 3.

Time between successive key‐press responses as function of position within a 9‐light sequence. A: subjects respond in accordance with a memorized time structure. B. subjects respond as rapidly as possible with no concern for the previously memorized time structure.

Adapted from Summers 84


Figure 4.

Performance in repetitively lifting weights by either wrist extension or flexion as a function of direction of gaze and number of bouts of lifting. Performance is measured as percentage of amount lifted on first bout.

Adapted from Hellebrandt et al. 28, © 1956 The Williams & Wilkins Co., Baltimore
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How to Cite

Steven W. Keele. Behavioral Analysis of Movement. Compr Physiol 2011, Supplement 2: Handbook of Physiology, The Nervous System, Motor Control: 1391-1414. First published in print 1981. doi: 10.1002/cphy.cp010231