Verification of two models of ballistic movements

Abstract

The study of ballistic movement time and ballistic movement variability can help us understand how our motor system works and further predict the relationship of speed-accuracy tradeoffs while performing complex hand-control movements. The purposes of this study were (1) to develop an experiment for measuring ballistic movement time and variability and (2) to utilize the measured data to test the application of the two models for predicting the two types of ballistic movement data. In this preliminary study, four participants conducted ballistic movements of specific amplitudes, by using a personal computer, a drawing tablet and a self-developed experimental program. The results showed that (1) the experiment successfully measured ballistic movement time and two types of ballistic movement variability, (2) the two models described well the measured data, and (3) a modified model was proposed to fit better the variable error in the direction of the direction of the movement. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.