Does the oculo-manual co-ordination control system use an internal model of the arm dynamics?

Abstract

The hypothesis that during self-moved target tracking, the eye-arm co-ordination control system uses an internal model of the arm dynamics was tested. The contribution of arm proprioception to this model was also assessed. Subjects (nine healthy adults and one deafferented subject) were requested to make forearm movements and visually track an arm-driven target. Unexpected changes in mechanical properties of the manipulandum were used to modify the dynamical conditions of arm movement. The smooth pursuit gain (SPG) was computed before and during the perturbation. Results showed a decrease of SPG during perturbation in control subjects only. We propose that an internal model of the arm dynamics may be used to co-ordinate eye and arm movements, and arm proprioception may contribute to this internal model.