Prediction precedes control in motor learning.

Full Abstract

Skilled motor behavior relies on the brain learning both to control the body and predict the consequences of this control. Prediction turns motor commands into expected sensory consequences, whereas control turns desired consequences into motor commands. To capture this symmetry, the neural processes underlying prediction and control are termed the forward and inverse internal models, respectively. Here, we investigate how these two fundamental processes are related during motor learning. We used an object manipulation task in which subjects learned to move a hand-held object with novel dynamic properties along a prescribed path. We independently and simultaneously measured subjects' ability to control their actions and to predict their consequences. We found different time courses for predictor and controller learning, with prediction being learned far more rapidly than control. In early stages of manipulating the object, subjects could predict the consequences of their actions, as measured by the grip force they used to grasp the object, but could not generate appropriate actions for control, as measured by their hand trajectory. As predicted by several recent theoretical models of sensorimotor control, our results indicate that people can learn to predict the consequences of their actions before they can learn to control their actions.

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Author information

Author/s: Flanagan, J Randall (JR); Vetter, Philipp (P); Johansson, Roland S (RS); Wolpert, Daniel M (DM);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, K7L 3N6, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Current biology : CB (Curr Biol), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Jan; vol 13 (issue 2) : pp 146-50

Dates: Created 2003/01/27; Completed 2003/09/24; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 12546789, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Biophysical Phenomena
Biophysics
Hand
Hand Strength - physiology

Hand Strength - physiology
Humans
Learning - physiology
Motor Skills - physiology

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