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Neuromotor Noise, Error Tolerance And Velocity-Dependent Costs In Skilled Performance, Dagmar Sternad, Masaki O. Abe, Xiaogang Hu, Hermann Müller

Dagmar Sternad

In motor tasks with redundancy neuromotor noise can lead to variations in execution while achieving relative invariance in the result. The present study examined whether humans find solutions that are tolerant to intrinsic noise. Using a throwing task in a virtual set-up where an infinite set of angle and velocity combinations at ball release yield throwing accuracy, our computational approach permitted quantitative predictions about solution strategies that are tolerant to noise. Based on a mathematical model of the task expected results were computed and provided predictions about error-tolerant strategies (Hypothesis 1). As strategies can take on a large range of …