Accurate visuomotor control below the perceptual threshold of size discrimination.

PloS One
Tzvi GanelDaniel Algom

Abstract

Human resolution for object size is typically determined by psychophysical methods that are based on conscious perception. In contrast, grasping of the same objects might be less conscious. It is suggested that grasping is mediated by mechanisms other than those mediating conscious perception. In this study, we compared the visual resolution for object size of the visuomotor and the perceptual system. In Experiment 1, participants discriminated the size of pairs of objects once through perceptual judgments and once by grasping movements toward the objects. Notably, the actual size differences were set below the Just Noticeable Difference (JND). We found that grasping trajectories reflected the actual size differences between the objects regardless of the JND. This pattern was observed even in trials in which the perceptual judgments were erroneous. The results of an additional control experiment showed that these findings were not confounded by task demands. Participants were not aware, therefore, that their size discrimination via grasp was veridical. We conclude that human resolution is not fully tapped by perceptually determined thresholds. Grasping likely exhibits greater resolving power than people usually realize.

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Citations

Nov 14, 2013·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Gal NamdarTzvi Ganel
Dec 6, 2014·Current Ophthalmology Reports·Lea HyvärinenMercè Leonhardt
Aug 27, 2013·Journal of Motor Behavior·Scott A HolmesMatthew Heath
Feb 2, 2016·Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior·Erez FreudSharon Gilaie-Dotan
Dec 19, 2015·Experimental Brain Research·Stephanie HosangMatthew Heath
Dec 19, 2013·Psychological Research·Erez FreudTzvi Ganel
May 21, 2016·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience·Shirin Davarpanah Jazi, Matthew Heath
Jan 14, 2017·Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior·Gal NamdarTzvi Ganel
Jul 25, 2018·Psychological Research·Noa Zitron-Emanuel, Tzvi Ganel
Jan 11, 2017·Experimental Brain Research·Jillian Chan, Matthew Heath
Jun 16, 2019·Psychological Research·Tzvi GanelMelvyn A Goodale

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Software Mentioned

Grasping

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