Abstract
In order to explore the nature and amount of information in the optic array used by subjects required to carry out one-handed catching actions, the optical expansion pattern (using a deflating ball) and the duration of viewing time (using liquid crystal spectacles) of the ball were varied. Subjects were required to catch luminous balls (two of constant physical size and one of changing physical size during approach) attached to a pendulum in a totally dark room, while the liquid spectacles were closed at 0, 100, 200 or 300 ms before hand-ball contact. The results confirmed previous findings that the timing of the catching action is based on retinal expansion information and that conclusion was strengthened when an additional dependent variable (time of the maximal opening velocity of the grasp) was used. Further, for the viewing time duration manipulations, the time of the maximal closing velocity of the hand was later, while no effect was found on the time of the maximal opening velocity, when the last 300 ms of the trajectory of the ball was occluded. Adjustments to the catching action in response to the different ball sizes under the 0 ms condition differed significantly from the adjustments under the 300 ms condition. Both findings point to the importance of relative optical expansion information, available between 300 and 200 ms before ball-hand contact, in maintaining a (relatively) continuous perception-action coupling in the act of catching.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alderson GJK, Sully DL, Sully HG (1974) An operational analysis of a one-handed catching task using high speed photography. J Motor Behav 6:217–226
Bootsma RJ, Van Wieringen PWC (1990) Timing an attacking forehand drive in table tennis. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept 16:21–29
Den Brinker BPLM, Krol JD, Zevering R (1985) Een bewegingsanalyse-systeem voor ‘real-time’ coordinatie feedback: a movement analysis system for real-time coordination feedback. In: Maarse FJ, van de Bosch WEJ, Zuiderveen EA, Wittenberg P (eds) Computers in de psychologie. Swetz and Zeitlinger BV, Lisse, pp 287–295
Fitch HL, Turvey MT (1977) On the control of activity: some remarks from an ecological point of view. In: Landers D, Christina R (eds) Psychology of motor behaviour and sport. Human Kinetics, Champaign, pp 3–35.
Franks IM, Weicker D, Robertson DGE (1985) The kinematics, movement phasing and timing of a skilled action in response to varying conditions of uncertainty. Human Mov Sci 4:91–105
Hofsten C von, Ronnqvist L (1988) Preparation for grasping an object: a developmental study. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept 14:610–621
Hubbard AW, Seng CN (1954) Visual movements of batters. Res Q 25:42–57
Jeannerod, M (1981) Intersegmental coordination during reaching at natural visual objects. In: Long J, Baddeley A (eds) Attention and performance IX. Erlbaum, Hillsdale, pp 153–168
Lacquaniti F, Maiolo C (1989) The role of preparation in tuning anticipatory and reflex responses during catching. J Neurosci 9:134–148
Lee DN (1976) A theory of visual control of braking based on information about time-to-collision. Perception 5:437–459
Lee DN (1980) Visuo-motor coordination in space-time. In: Stelmach GE, Requin J (eds) Tutorials in motor behavior. North Holland, Amsterdam, pp 281–293
Lee DN, Young DS, Reddish, DE, Lough S, Clayton TMH (1983) Visual timing in hitting an accelerating ball. Q J Exp Psych 35a: 333–346
Marteniuk RG, Mackenzie CL, Leavitt JL (1990) The inadequacies of a straight physical account. In, Whiting HTA, Meijer OG, van Wieringen PCW (eds) The natural physical approach to movement control. Free University Press, Amsterdam, pp 95–115
McLeod P (1987) Visual reaction time and high-speed ball games. Perception 16:49–59
McLeod RW, Ross HE (1983) Optic-flow and cognitive factors in time-to-collision estimates. Perception 12:417–423
Rosenbaum DA (1991) Human motor control. Academic Press, New York
Savelsbergh GJP (1990) Catching behaviour. Krips Repro, Meppel
Savelsbergh GJP, Whiting HTA, Bootsma RJ (1991) Grasping ‘Tau’. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept 17:315–322
Savelsbergh GJP, Whiting HTA, Burden AM, Bartlett RA (1992). The role of predictive visual temporal information in the coordination of muscle activity in catching. Exp Brain Res 89:223–228
Schiff W, Detweiler ML (1979) Information used in judging impending collision. Perception 8:647–658
Sharp RH (1975) Skill in fast ball games: some input considerations. PhD thesis, Department of Physical Education, University of Leeds, England
Sharp RH, Whiting HTA (1974) Exposure and occluded duration effects in a ball-catching skill. J Motor Behav 3:139–147
Tyldesley DA, Whiting HTA (1975) Operational timing. J Human Mov Stud 1:172–177
Whiting HTA, Sharp RH (1974) Visual occlusion factors in a discrete ball catching task. J Motor Behav 6:11–16
Wood GA (1982) Data smoothing and differentiation procedures in biomechanics. Exercise Sport Sci Rev 10:308–362
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Savelsbergh, G.J.P., Whiting, H.T.A., Pijpers, J.R. et al. The visual guidance of catching. Exp Brain Res 93, 148–156 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00227789
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00227789