Date of Award
2010
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Neuroscience
Supervisor
Dr. Melvyn Goodale
Second Advisor
Dr. Daniel Ansari
Third Advisor
Dr. Stefan Köhler
Abstract
We developed a rapid reaching paradigm in which we require participants to make speeded reaches toward ambiguous target displays, with a goal target filling-in only after movement onset. In our previous work, we have found that initial reaches extend toward the averaged spatial location of the presented targets. Our aim for the current study was to determine if object connectedness - a strong perceptual illusion in which two connected objects appear as one - could influence the strategic reaching behaviour. Even though there was a powerful effect of the illusion on perception, the visuomotor system was able to utilize the true target information and continue to plan reaches based on the number and distribution of targets presented. These results resonate with the idea of a division of labour between vision-for-perception and vision-for-action - but extend this dissociation (with respect to the action system) into the realm of motor planning.
Recommended Citation
Milne, Jennifer L., "INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF OBJECT CONNECTEDNESS ON RAPID VISUALLY-GUIDED REACHING TOWARD MULTIPLE GOALS" (2010). Digitized Theses. 4253.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/4253