Eye-movements support chronometric imagery performance even when the task is occluded |
| |
Authors: | C. J. Wakefield J. W. Roberts G. Wood |
| |
Affiliation: | 1. School of Health Sciences, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, UK wakefic@hope.ac.ukhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0085-0219;3. School of Health Sciences, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, UK https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6204-5325;4. Research Centre for Musculoskeletal Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0851-7090 |
| |
Abstract: | ABSTRACT Mental chronometry has often been used to provide a temporal comparison between executed and imagined movements, with smaller discrepancies indicating more accurate image production and better imagery performance. In this study, we examined the importance of retinal and extra-retinal information in the performance of simple, sequential movements. After physical practice of four activities of daily living (Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure), nineteen participants imagined completing the same tasks with: 1) free eye-movements and visible objects, 2) free eye-movements and no visibility of the objects, and 3) constrained eye-movements and visible objects. Results suggested imagery performance was slower/less accurate compared to physical execution when the eyes were constrained. Conversely, chronometric imagery performance was unaffected with free eye movements, even when task-specific visual information was occluded. This study highlights the crucial role that eye-movements play in the regulation of the temporal aspects of imagery even when retinal information is absent, suggesting that temporal sequencing of imagined actions is largely dependent on extra-retinal information sources. |
| |
Keywords: | Mental imagery mental simulation mental chronometry gaze oculomotor |
|
|