Frequency distributions of target-directed movements: examining spatial variability in its wider context

Roberts, James W. (2018) Frequency distributions of target-directed movements: examining spatial variability in its wider context. Motor Control. ISSN 1543-2696 (Accepted for Publication)

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Abstract

Investigations of visually-guided target-directed movement frequently adopt measures of within-participant spatial variability to infer the contribution of planning and control. The present study aims to verify this current trend by exploring the distribution of displacements at kinematic landmarks with a view to understanding the potential sources of variability. Separate sets of participants aiming under full visual feedback conditions revealed a comparatively normal distribution for the displacements at peak velocity and movement end. However, there was demonstrable positive skew in the displacement at peak acceleration and a significant negative skew at peak deceleration. The ranges of the distributions as defined by either ±1SD or ±34.13th percentile (equivalent to an estimated 68.26% of responses) also revealed differences at peak deceleration. These findings indicate that spatial variability in the acceleration domain features highly informative systematic, as well as merely inherent, sources of variability. Implications for the further quantification of trial-by-trial behaviour are discussed.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information and Comments:	© Human Kinetics, Inc. This is the author's manuscript of an article that has been accepted for publication in Motor Control. When published, the final version will be available from: https://journals.humankinetics.com/journal/mcj
Faculty / Department:	Faculty of Human and Digital Sciences > School of Health and Sport Sciences
Depositing User:	James Roberts
Date Deposited:	19 Dec 2018 16:28
Last Modified:	19 Dec 2018 16:28
URI:	https://hira.hope.ac.uk/id/eprint/2740

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