Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Three dimensional arm trajectories

  • Published:
Biological Cybernetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Planar arm trajectories are characterized by a segmentation of the hand velocity profile and by a coupling between shape and speed. The question addressed in this paper is whether such coupling, observed in two dimensions, still holds in three dimensions. This matter was investigated experimentally by recording three dimensional “aimless” movements of the arm, particularly three dimensional scribbles, and the answer suggested by the experimental data is that only the “bending” of the trajectory is coupled with speed, whereas the “twisting” is independent of speed. The same behaviour was also found to characterize a computational model of trajectory formation which is based on the spatial composition of chains of planar strokes, overlapped in time.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abend, W., Bizzi, E., Morasso, P.: Human arm trajectory formation. Brain105, 331–348 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Denier van der Gon, J.J., Thuring, J.Ph.: The guiding of human writing movements. Kybernetik2, 145–148 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kots, Y.M., Syrovegin, A.M.: Fixed sets of invariants of interactions of the muscles of the two joints used in the execution of single voluntary movements. Biofisica11, 1061–1066 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lacquaniti, F., Soechting, J.F.: Coordination of arm and wrist motion during a reaching task. J. Neurosci2, 399–408 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Morasso, P.: Spatial control of arm movements. Exp. Brain Res.42, 223–227 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Morasso, P., Mussa Ivaldi, F.A.: Trajectory formation and handwriting: a computational model. Biol. Cybern.45, 131–142 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Morasso, P., Mussa Ivaldi, F.A. Ruggiero, C.: How a discontinuous mechanism can produce continuous patterns in trajectory formation and handwriting Acta Psychol.54 (1983) (in press)

  • Morasso, P., Tagliasco, V.: Analysis of human movements: spatial localisation with multiple perspective views. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput.21, 74–82 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Morasso, P.: Coordination aspects of arm trajectory formation. Human Movem. Sci. (1983) (in press)

  • Prablanc, C., Echellier, J.F., Komillis, K., Jeanerod, M.: Optimal response of eye and hand motor systems in pointing at a visual target. Biol. Cybern.35, 113–124 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rektorys, K. (ed.): Survey of applicable mathematics. Cambridge: MIT Press 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • Teulings, H.L.H.M., Thomassen A.J.W.M.: Computer aided analysis of handwriting movements. Visible LanguageXIII3, 218–231 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Viviani, P., Terzuolo, C.A.: Space-time invariance in learned motor skills. In: Tutorials in motor behaviour: Stelmach, G.E., Requin, J. (eds.), pp. 525–533. Amsterdam: North-Holland 1980

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Elettrotecnica, University of Genova, Center of Bioengineering and Anthropomorphic Robotics, C.N.R., Genova, Italy

    Pietro Morasso

Authors
  1. Pietro Morasso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Morasso, P. Three dimensional arm trajectories. Biol. Cybern. 48, 187–194 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00318086

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00318086

Keywords

Search

Navigation