Learning and transfer in perceptual motor tasks

Abstract

We have used suppressed tracking tasks and inverted tracking tasks and studied the learning processes and transfer of learning in order to investigate perceptual motor coordination. In suppressed trials, either the target or the manual cursor was suppressed for a brief period during each trial. In inverted trials, the relation between joystick movement and target movement was inverted at an unpredictable time during each trial. These tasks require learning a novel sensorimotor transformation. We have used this approach to discuss the internal models used during tracking, and their updating during motor learning. The results suggested hierarchy and modularity of the internal models.