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Shared attention for action selection and action monitoring in goal-directed reaching

  • Aoife Mahon
    ,
  • Solveiga Bendžiūtė
    ,
  • Constanze Hesse
    ,
  • Amelia R. Hunt
  • University of Aberdeen
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Open access

Abstract

Dual-task studies have shown higher sensitivity for stimuli presented at the targets of upcoming actions. We examined whether attention is directed to action targets for the purpose of action selection, or if attention is directed to these locations because they are expected to provide feedback about movement outcomes. In our experiment, endpoint accuracy feedback was spatially separated from the action targets to determine whether attention would be allocated to (a) the action targets, (b) the expected source of feedback, or (c) to both locations. Participants reached towards a location indicated by an arrow while identifying a discrimination target that could appear in any one of eight possible locations. Discrimination target accuracy was used as a measure of attention allocation. Participants were unable to see their hand during reaching and were provided with a small monetary reward for each accurate movement. Discrimination target accuracy was best at action targets but was also enhanced at the spatially separated feedback locations. Separating feedback from the reaching targets did not diminish discrimination accuracy at the movement targets but did result in delayed movement initiation and reduced reaching accuracy, relative to when feedback was presented at the reaching target. The results suggest attention is required for both action planning and monitoring movement outcomes. Dividing attention between these functions negatively impacts action performance.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 313-326

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Psychological Research (Volume 84)

Publication milestones

  • Accepted/In press - 18/07/2018
  • Published - 10/08/2018

Publication status

Published - 10/08/2018

ISSN

0340-0727

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/623043
  • Scopus: 85051750906

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