Motor Habits in Visuo-manual Tracking: Manifestation of an Unconscious Short-term Motor Memory?

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Hufschmidt, Andreas^; | Deuschl, Günther | Locking, Carl Hermann

Affiliations: Department of Neurology, University of Freiburg, Hansastrasse 9, D-7800 Freiburg i. Brsg., FRG

Note: [] Correspondence: Dr A. Hufschmidt, Neurologische Klinik, Hansastr. 9, D-7800 Freiburg, FRG.

Abstract: Normal subjects were tested in short, repetitive trials of a tracking task, with an identical shape of target movement being used throughout one session. Analysis of the net error curves (pursuit minus target movement) revealed that subjects regularly exhibit a remoteness effect: neighbouring trials were more similar than distant ones. The effect is demonstrated to be stronger in the absence of visual cues, and was found to be absent in a patient with complete loss of proprioception when he was performing without visual feedback as well. The results are discussed in terms of a short term memory store contributing to unconscious movement habits in tracking. This may represent part of the motor learning process working together with conscious visuo-motor control mechanisms. Its function is probably related to the acquisition of automatic movements.

DOI: 10.3233/BEN-1990-3402

Journal: Behavioural Neurology, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 217-232, 1990