Examining modifications of execution strategies during a continuous task
Abstract How strategies are formulated during a performance is an important aspect of motor control. Knowledge of the strategy employed in a task may help subjects achieve better performances, as it would help to evidence other possible strategies that could be used as well as help perfect a certain...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84369-5 |
| _version_ | 1818400821356789760 |
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| author | Erez James Cohen Kunlin Wei Diego Minciacchi |
| author_facet | Erez James Cohen Kunlin Wei Diego Minciacchi |
| author_sort | Erez James Cohen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract How strategies are formulated during a performance is an important aspect of motor control. Knowledge of the strategy employed in a task may help subjects achieve better performances, as it would help to evidence other possible strategies that could be used as well as help perfect a certain strategy. We sought to investigate how much of a performance is conditioned by the initial state and whether behavior throughout the performance is modified within a short timescale. In other words, we focus on the process of execution and not on the outcome. To this scope we used a repeated continuous circle tracing task. Performances were decomposed into different components (i.e., execution variables) whose combination is able to numerically determine movement outcome. By identifying execution variables of speed and duration, we created an execution space and a solution manifold (i.e., combinations of execution variables yielding zero discrepancy from the desired outcome) and divided the subjects according to their initial performance in that space into speed preference, duration preference, and no-preference groups. We demonstrated that specific strategies may be identified in a continuous task, and strategies remain relatively stable throughout the performance. Moreover, as performances remained stable, the initial location in the execution space can be used to determine the subject’s strategy. Finally, contrary to other studies, we demonstrated that, in a continuous task, performances were associated with reduced exploration of the execution space. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T07:42:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bbe4bb55e1fd47e7974411250c7d7ef1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T07:42:40Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-bbe4bb55e1fd47e7974411250c7d7ef12022-12-21T23:10:59ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-03-0111111410.1038/s41598-021-84369-5Examining modifications of execution strategies during a continuous taskErez James Cohen0Kunlin Wei1Diego Minciacchi2Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Physiological Sciences Section, University of FlorenceSchool of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking UniversityDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Physiological Sciences Section, University of FlorenceAbstract How strategies are formulated during a performance is an important aspect of motor control. Knowledge of the strategy employed in a task may help subjects achieve better performances, as it would help to evidence other possible strategies that could be used as well as help perfect a certain strategy. We sought to investigate how much of a performance is conditioned by the initial state and whether behavior throughout the performance is modified within a short timescale. In other words, we focus on the process of execution and not on the outcome. To this scope we used a repeated continuous circle tracing task. Performances were decomposed into different components (i.e., execution variables) whose combination is able to numerically determine movement outcome. By identifying execution variables of speed and duration, we created an execution space and a solution manifold (i.e., combinations of execution variables yielding zero discrepancy from the desired outcome) and divided the subjects according to their initial performance in that space into speed preference, duration preference, and no-preference groups. We demonstrated that specific strategies may be identified in a continuous task, and strategies remain relatively stable throughout the performance. Moreover, as performances remained stable, the initial location in the execution space can be used to determine the subject’s strategy. Finally, contrary to other studies, we demonstrated that, in a continuous task, performances were associated with reduced exploration of the execution space.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84369-5 |
| spellingShingle | Erez James Cohen Kunlin Wei Diego Minciacchi Examining modifications of execution strategies during a continuous task Scientific Reports |
| title | Examining modifications of execution strategies during a continuous task |
| title_full | Examining modifications of execution strategies during a continuous task |
| title_fullStr | Examining modifications of execution strategies during a continuous task |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examining modifications of execution strategies during a continuous task |
| title_short | Examining modifications of execution strategies during a continuous task |
| title_sort | examining modifications of execution strategies during a continuous task |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84369-5 |
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