A Study of Reaching Movement and Effects of Visual Feedback using A Virtual Reality Technique

Abstract

Applying a virtual reality technique, the effects of visual feedback on reaching movements toward a target were studied. Observers were asked to grasp or point to a 3D target image in a stereographics display. During reaching movement, the target suddenly changed its position when the observer's hand came within a certain distance from the target(double-step-paradigm). The trajectory of the reaching movement accompanied with grasping showed an asymmetric velocity profile. This indicates that the grasping and reaching are controlled by dependent systems. Fundamental properties of grasping and reaching were analyzed and the mechanisms discussed.