Journal article
Proprioceptive acuity for landmarks on the hand and digits
Experimental brain research, Vol.242(2), pp.491-503
02/2024
DOI: 10.1007/s00221-023-06761-z
PMID: 38193947
Abstract
Previous work using visually guided reaches to localize landmarks on a hidden hand has suggested that proprioceptive acuity for hand targets is low and representation of hand dimensions is highly distorted (e.g., hand width estimated to be 60% wider than actual hand width). We re-examined these issues using a pure proprioceptive task in which 20 blindfolded subjects reached in a single movement without terminal corrections to touch the right index-tip to landmarks of the left hand placed in various locations in 3D space. Subjects were also tested with vision allowed to estimate minimal errors. Based on previous reports of high proprioceptive acuity for some hand landmarks, we hypothesized that the proprioceptive representation of the hand was much less distorted than described previously and that errors were not correlated with target hand location. Mean distance errors in proprioceptively guided reaches to the landmarks averaged less than 3 cm and were only 0.5-1.3 cm larger than when vision was allowed. Errors were not correlated with hand location in most subjects. Distortions of hand width averaged less than 20% wider than actual width and were not correlated with hand location in most subjects. We conclude that relatively accurate proprioceptive awareness of locations of hand/digit structures and dimensions is available for use in control of hand movements, which are executed largely subconsciously. Studying acuity of proprioception using conscious perceptual tasks and involving vision may not provide accurate measures of proprioceptive acuity as used by the motor system.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Proprioceptive acuity for landmarks on the hand and digits
- Creators
- Warren G Darling - Department of Health and Human Physiology, Motor Control Laboratory, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA. warren-darling@uiowa.eduBennett I Zuck - University of IowaLavena Mikhail - Department of Health and Human Physiology, Motor Control Laboratory, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USAJharna Adhikari - Department of Health and Human Physiology, Motor Control Laboratory, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Experimental brain research, Vol.242(2), pp.491-503
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00221-023-06761-z
- PMID
- 38193947
- ISSN
- 0014-4819
- eISSN
- 1432-1106
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 01/09/2024
- Date published
- 02/2024
- Academic Unit
- Health and Human Physiology
- Record Identifier
- 9984544630802771
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