Figural Aftereffects Elicited by Gross Action Patterns: The Role of Kinesthetic Aftereffects in the Arm-Shoulder Musculature

Abstract

Abstract To differentiate between the influence of kinesthetic aftereffects in the arm-shoulder musculature versus ancillary gait and vestibular cues upon the production of figural aftereffects, 40 volunteer subjects were employed in tasks which required that they identify the shape of various pathways while walking through them blindfolded. During the initial and final traversals of a straight “test” pathway the subjects used a different hand to hold the guide stick than that used as they walked through the curved “inspection” pathways. It was found that 67.5% of the subjects reported aftereffects (perceived that the straight pathway was curved in a direction opposite to that walked in the curved pathway) under the conditions described. It was concluded that figural aftereffects of movement elicited by blindfolded walking may be independent of kinesthetic aftereffects in the arm-shoulder musculature—possibly because of the manner in which guide sticks were employed. Theoretical and methodological implications of the findings were discussed.