Grip Force Adjustments Reflect Prediction of Dynamic Consequences in Varying Gravitoinertial Fields
Humans have a remarkable ability to adjust the way they manipulate tools through a genuine regulation of grip force according to the task. However, rapid changes in the dynamical context may challenge this skill, as shown in many experimental approaches. Most experiments adopt perturbation paradigms...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2018.00131/full |
| _version_ | 1819029594108329984 |
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| author | Olivier White Jean-Louis Thonnard Jean-Louis Thonnard Philippe Lefèvre Philippe Lefèvre Joachim Hermsdörfer |
| author_facet | Olivier White Jean-Louis Thonnard Jean-Louis Thonnard Philippe Lefèvre Philippe Lefèvre Joachim Hermsdörfer |
| author_sort | Olivier White |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Humans have a remarkable ability to adjust the way they manipulate tools through a genuine regulation of grip force according to the task. However, rapid changes in the dynamical context may challenge this skill, as shown in many experimental approaches. Most experiments adopt perturbation paradigms that affect only one sensory modality. We hypothesize that very fast adaptation can occur if coherent information from multiple sensory modalities is provided to the central nervous system. Here, we test whether participants can switch between different and never experienced dynamical environments induced by centrifugation of the body. Seven participants lifted an object four times in a row successively in 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 2, 1.5, and 1 g. We continuously measured grip force, load force and the gravitoinertial acceleration that was aligned with body axis (perceived gravity). Participants adopted stereotyped grasping movements immediately upon entry in a new environment and needed only one trial to adapt grip forces to a stable performance in each new gravity environment. This result was underlined by good correlations between grip and load forces in the first trial. Participants predictively applied larger grip forces when they expected increasing gravity steps. They also decreased grip force when they expected decreasing gravity steps, but not as much as they could, indicating imperfect anticipation in that condition. The participants' performance could rather be explained by a combination of successful scaling of grip force according to gravity changes and a separate safety factor. The data suggest that in highly unfamiliar dynamic environments, grip force regulation is characterized by a combination of a successful anticipation of the experienced environmental condition, a safety factor reflecting strategic response to uncertainties about the environment and rapid feedback mechanisms to optimize performance under constant conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T06:16:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-63ffe92c545d4889951aa6a9e910b910 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T06:16:44Z |
| publishDate | 2018-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-63ffe92c545d4889951aa6a9e910b9102022-12-21T19:13:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2018-02-01910.3389/fphys.2018.00131324979Grip Force Adjustments Reflect Prediction of Dynamic Consequences in Varying Gravitoinertial FieldsOlivier White0Jean-Louis Thonnard1Jean-Louis Thonnard2Philippe Lefèvre3Philippe Lefèvre4Joachim Hermsdörfer5INSERM UMR1093-CAPS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UFR des Sciences du Sport, Dijon, FranceInstitute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, BelgiumPhysical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, BelgiumInstitute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, BelgiumInstitute of Information and Communication Technologies, Electronics and Applied Mathematics, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, BelgiumDepartment of Sport and Health Sciences, Institute of Human Movement Science, Technische Universität München, Munich, GermanyHumans have a remarkable ability to adjust the way they manipulate tools through a genuine regulation of grip force according to the task. However, rapid changes in the dynamical context may challenge this skill, as shown in many experimental approaches. Most experiments adopt perturbation paradigms that affect only one sensory modality. We hypothesize that very fast adaptation can occur if coherent information from multiple sensory modalities is provided to the central nervous system. Here, we test whether participants can switch between different and never experienced dynamical environments induced by centrifugation of the body. Seven participants lifted an object four times in a row successively in 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 2, 1.5, and 1 g. We continuously measured grip force, load force and the gravitoinertial acceleration that was aligned with body axis (perceived gravity). Participants adopted stereotyped grasping movements immediately upon entry in a new environment and needed only one trial to adapt grip forces to a stable performance in each new gravity environment. This result was underlined by good correlations between grip and load forces in the first trial. Participants predictively applied larger grip forces when they expected increasing gravity steps. They also decreased grip force when they expected decreasing gravity steps, but not as much as they could, indicating imperfect anticipation in that condition. The participants' performance could rather be explained by a combination of successful scaling of grip force according to gravity changes and a separate safety factor. The data suggest that in highly unfamiliar dynamic environments, grip force regulation is characterized by a combination of a successful anticipation of the experienced environmental condition, a safety factor reflecting strategic response to uncertainties about the environment and rapid feedback mechanisms to optimize performance under constant conditions.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2018.00131/fullmotor controlgrip forceswitchinggravity sensinguncertaintyhypergravity |
| spellingShingle | Olivier White Jean-Louis Thonnard Jean-Louis Thonnard Philippe Lefèvre Philippe Lefèvre Joachim Hermsdörfer Grip Force Adjustments Reflect Prediction of Dynamic Consequences in Varying Gravitoinertial Fields Frontiers in Physiology motor control grip force switching gravity sensing uncertainty hypergravity |
| title | Grip Force Adjustments Reflect Prediction of Dynamic Consequences in Varying Gravitoinertial Fields |
| title_full | Grip Force Adjustments Reflect Prediction of Dynamic Consequences in Varying Gravitoinertial Fields |
| title_fullStr | Grip Force Adjustments Reflect Prediction of Dynamic Consequences in Varying Gravitoinertial Fields |
| title_full_unstemmed | Grip Force Adjustments Reflect Prediction of Dynamic Consequences in Varying Gravitoinertial Fields |
| title_short | Grip Force Adjustments Reflect Prediction of Dynamic Consequences in Varying Gravitoinertial Fields |
| title_sort | grip force adjustments reflect prediction of dynamic consequences in varying gravitoinertial fields |
| topic | motor control grip force switching gravity sensing uncertainty hypergravity |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2018.00131/full |
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