Bilateral Transfer of a Visuomotor Task in Different Workspace Configurations

Abstract

Bilateral transfer occurs when a learned behavior transfers from one (group of) effectors(s) to another. Researchers investigating bilateral transfer of a visuomotor adaptation task between limbs used across workspaces have observed divergent results. This study assessed whether bilateral transfer of a visuomotor adaptation task changes with workspace configuration manipulation. Ninety-six right-handed young adults were assigned to one of three workspace locations, i.e., ipsilateral, contralateral, and central. Within each workspace were two retention groups (RRR/LLL) and two bilateral transfer groups (RLR/LRL). Performance before and after training was collected to determine direct and after-effects. We observed an asymmetric transfer of pathlength (left to right) but no ensuing after-effect. However, the transfer of movement time and normalized jerk was symmetric in the contralateral workspace. These findings showed differences in the pattern of bilateral transfer asymmetry in the different workspace configurations, which was parameter specific.

Keywords:

• Bilateral transfer
• workspace location
• visuomotor adaptation
• upper-limbs

Disclosure Statement

The preliminary results were presented at the Society for Neuroscience Conference, Chicago, 2019. The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Data are available upon request from the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.