Abstract
In 3 experiments, the authors investigated the impact of action goals
on the production of discrete bimanual responses. Similar to a bartender
putting 2 glasses simultaneously on a shelf, participants placed
2 objects into either parallel or opposite orientations by carrying
out either mirror-symmetrical or mirror-asymmetrical movements. In
Experiment 1, performance was strongly affected by the congruency
of the intended object orientations but was essentially unaffected
by movement symmetry. Experiment 2 replicated this instrumental goal-congruency
effect (and the absence of motor-symmetry effects) when actions were
cued in advance. Experiment 3 revealed substantial motor-symmetry
effects, provided the movements themselves became the action goal.
The authors concluded that performance in bimanual choice reaction
tasks is constrained by the creation and maintenance of goal codes
rather than by properties inherent in the neuromuscular system that
carries out these responses. These goals can relate to either body-intrinsic
states or to body-extrinsic states according to the actor's current
intentions.
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