Journal of Motor BehaviorPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2026-06-22DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2026.2668722
Alireza Aminaee, Shahzad Tahmasebi Boroujeni, Elahe Arabameri, Mehdi Shahbazi, Ali Sharifnezhad
{"title":"Expertise Modulates Anticipatory Synergy Adjustments in a Rapid Motor Skill Under Temporal Constraints.","authors":"Alireza Aminaee, Shahzad Tahmasebi Boroujeni, Elahe Arabameri, Mehdi Shahbazi, Ali Sharifnezhad","doi":"10.1080/00222895.2026.2668722","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00222895.2026.2668722","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Anticipatory synergy adjustments (ASA) represent a feedforward mechanism by which the central nervous system transiently weakens postural synergies to enable rapid changes in performance variable, embodying the stability-agility tradeoff. This study investigated how temporal constraints and expertise modulate ASA onset time and magnitude during table tennis forehand strokes. Twenty male participants (10 skilled, 10 novice) performed 20 forehand trials in response to fast (5 m/s) and slow (1 m/s) visual stimuli in a coincidence anticipation timing task. Electromyography from 14 muscles and the center of pressure (COP) displacement were recorded. Synergy indices were computed using the uncontrolled manifold hypothesis. Results revealed that stimulus speed did not significantly affect ASA onset time (<i>p</i> = 0.519) or amplitude (<i>p</i> = 0.305). In contrast, skilled players exhibited significantly earlier ASA onset (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and larger magnitude (<i>p</i> = 0.002) than novices. Among skilled players, ASA features positively correlated with postural agility metrics (peak COP velocity and displacement) but not with timing errors. These findings indicate that ASA is shaped primarily by expertise rather than temporal task demands, reflecting refined neuromuscular control strategies that optimize the stability-agility tradeoff for rapid motor performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":50125,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Motor Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"455-466"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148297121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of Motor BehaviorPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2026-07-09DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2026.2698544
Takeshi Muto, Jo Kasuya, Yumiko Muto
{"title":"Effects of Self-Projection through Mixed Reality on Walking Posture in Environment with Constrained Limb Movement.","authors":"Takeshi Muto, Jo Kasuya, Yumiko Muto","doi":"10.1080/00222895.2026.2698544","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00222895.2026.2698544","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The posture of a person changes due to various factors, causing accidents or illnesses. We examined walking posture using the self-projection method (SPM) in mixed-reality environments where upper- and lower-limb movements were constrained to simulate tasks such as obstacle avoidance and carrying objects. The SPM uses mixed-reality goggles to display a three-dimensional avatar representing the user's walking posture in real time, allowing users to visually monitor and adjust their gait through feedback-driven implicit learning. We selected 10 healthy men and compared their walking postures in two scenarios: walking freely while avoiding obstacles (SO task) and walking while also carrying a cup on a tray (SC task). The postural changes resulting from the support provided by the SPM were analyzed. The results indicated that the support reduced forward trunk tilt and its longitudinal and lateral movements during walking. A strong corrective effect was observed in lateral sway during the SO task. Moreover, the SPM reduced longitudinal swaying of the trunk and significantly decreased forward tilt in the SC task. These results indicate that the SPM, which relies on implicit learning, is effective in stabilizing walking posture and reducing the risk of falls in environments with constrained limb movements.</p>","PeriodicalId":50125,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Motor Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"515-528"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148413633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Influence of Concern About Falls on Threat-Induced Emotional and Postural Responses in Older Adults.","authors":"Hideyuki Tashiro, Sota Hirosaki, Yui Sato, Hikaru Ihira, Megumi Toki, Naoki Kozuka","doi":"10.1080/00222895.2026.2708348","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00222895.2026.2708348","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to clarify whether concern about falls contributes to inducing emotional and postural responses when threatened in older adults while standing on an elevated platform. Seventy-four older adults (mean age: 78.8 ± 5.8 years, 65 female) were exposed to fear while standing on the floor and on an elevated 0.6 m surface. We examined the changes in self-reported fear of falling, physiological measures, postural sway, and muscle activity. The older adults were classified as having lower (<i>n</i> = 11), moderate (<i>n</i> = 24), and higher concern about falls (<i>n</i> = 39), based on the Falls Efficacy Scale International. All groups significantly shifted their posture backwards, and increased tibialis anterior activity and co-contractive activity with the soleus was noted when standing at a height, which is a rational behavior to decrease the risk of falling and maintain safety. The participants with higher and moderate concern about falls had significantly increased self-reported fear and pulse rate on the elevated surface compared to the floor condition. Older adults with greater concern about falling also increased their sway velocity in the elevated condition. These findings reveal an underlying relationship between concern about falls and emotional and postural responses in fear-inducing situations.</p>","PeriodicalId":50125,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Motor Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"603-611"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148632583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of Motor BehaviorPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-04DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2025.2592553
Sung-Hyeon Lee, Yoon-Mo Yang, Ju-Hyung Park
{"title":"Effects of Point-Light Technique Action Observation Training in Patients with Stroke: A Randomised Controlled Study.","authors":"Sung-Hyeon Lee, Yoon-Mo Yang, Ju-Hyung Park","doi":"10.1080/00222895.2025.2592553","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00222895.2025.2592553","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examined the effects of point-light action observation therapy (PL-AOT) on muscle activation, upper extremity function, and activities of daily living (ADL) in stroke patients. Thirty-two participants were randomly assigned to either a PL-AOT group or a traditional AOT group. Both groups received 30-minute sessions, five times a week for four weeks. Assessments included the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), Box and Block Test (BBT), Korean Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI), Motor Activity Log (MAL), and surface electromyography (sEMG). Both groups showed significant improvements in all outcomes after the intervention (<i>p</i> < .05). However, the PL-AOT group demonstrated significantly greater gains in upper extremity function, ADLs, and muscle activation compared to the traditional AOT group (<i>p</i> < .05). Additionally, co-contraction ratios indicated positive changes in shoulder and elbow joint coordination only in the PL-AOT group. These findings suggest that PL-AOT may be more effective than traditional AOT in promoting motor recovery and functional improvements in individuals with stroke.</p>","PeriodicalId":50125,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Motor Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"41-58"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145670723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of Motor BehaviorPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-13DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2025.2585570
Hanieh Abbasi, Mohammed N Ashtiani
{"title":"Laser-Guided Visual Cueing Modulates Spatiotemporal Gait Dynamics During Transitions in Parkinson's.","authors":"Hanieh Abbasi, Mohammed N Ashtiani","doi":"10.1080/00222895.2025.2585570","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00222895.2025.2585570","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated the impact of real-time laser-guided visual cues on spatiotemporal gait parameters during initiation and termination in people with Parkinson's (PwP). Fifteen PwP walked a 5-m path under uncued and laser-cued conditions while gait kinematics and center of pressure (CoP) data were collected. Results revealed that laser-guided visual cues significantly increased anterior-posterior CoP displacement during the propelling phase of gait initiation (<i>p</i> = .016) and improved dynamic stability, evidenced by reduced lateral asymmetry (<i>p</i> = .007) and decreased fractal dimension of lateral gait variability (<i>p</i> = .001). Conversely, step time increased (<i>p</i> = .005) and step velocity decreased (<i>p</i> < .001) with cueing, while step length remained unchanged. No significant effects of cueing were observed during gait termination. These findings suggest that laser-guided visual cues enhance gait initiation in PwP by promoting propulsion and stability, likely by facilitating an external focus of attention and improving anticipatory postural adjustments. The lack of effect on gait termination may reflect differing neural control mechanisms. This study contributes to the understanding of laser-guided visual cueing mechanisms in PwP gait and supports its potential as a targeted intervention for improving functional mobility, particularly during the challenging phase of gait initiation.</p>","PeriodicalId":50125,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Motor Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"31-40"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145507781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of Motor BehaviorPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2026-01-02DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2025.2605977
Cassandra J Kemmel-Bartletti, Karin Goodfriend, Meghann Sytsma, Sheila Schindler-Ivens, Samuel T Nemanich
{"title":"Effects of Symmetry and Age on Bilateral Upper-Limb Coordination in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy.","authors":"Cassandra J Kemmel-Bartletti, Karin Goodfriend, Meghann Sytsma, Sheila Schindler-Ivens, Samuel T Nemanich","doi":"10.1080/00222895.2025.2605977","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00222895.2025.2605977","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bilateral movements are important for daily function and are impaired in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP). Prior work has established that coordination is dependent on symmetry demands between the limbs. We examined how symmetry impacted bilateral coordination, and as an exploratory aim, compared age-related differences in upper-limb (UL) coordination in children with UCP to children with typical development (TD). Using an instrumented cycling device, participants performed bilateral UL cycling in symmetric or asymmetric patterns. Metrics of inter-limb (phase error) coordination were compared between groups (TD or UCP) and with respect to age (young: 7-9 years; older: 13-15 years). Children with UCP had poorer inter-limb coordination in both symmetric (50.88°) and asymmetric (93.22°) bilateral tasks compared to TD children. Younger children, regardless of group, had poorer inter-limb coordination for the asymmetric (32.54°) bilateral task only. Regression modeling revealed UCP, age, and unilateral coordination ability were significantly associated with asymmetric bilateral coordination. The results indicate that bilateral coordination skills reflect atypical processes related to UCP and typical age-related motor development, particularly for more complex asymmetric tasks. Altogether, this research confirms children with UCP have impaired bilateral coordination and highlights potential for future work to study developmental changes in this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":50125,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Motor Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"70-80"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13061373/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145893378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of Motor BehaviorPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2026.2615718
Jalil Moradi, Fahimeh Soufi, Shima Roozbahani
{"title":"Self-Controlled Demonstration Improves Basketball Free Throw Learning, Independent of Motor Imagery Ability in Children.","authors":"Jalil Moradi, Fahimeh Soufi, Shima Roozbahani","doi":"10.1080/00222895.2026.2615718","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00222895.2026.2615718","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examined the effects of self-controlled versus instructor-controlled demonstration on learning basketball free throws in children with different motor imagery abilities. Forty boys aged 9-12 were randomly assigned to four groups based on imagery ability (high/low) and demonstration type (self/instructor-controlled). In self-controlled conditions, participants could choose when to receive the skill demonstration from the instructor. Performance was evaluated using the basketball free throw test, and motor imagery ability was measured using the Motor Imagery Questionnaire for Children (MIQ-C). Following a pretest, participants trained for ten sessions every other day, with each session consisting of twenty throwing trials. Assessments included a post-test (after the last session) and retention and transfer tests (one week later). The results indicated that self-controlled groups performed better than instructor-controlled groups across all phases (<i>p</i> = .001). Additionally, skill learning was not significantly impacted by motor imagery ability (<i>p</i> > .05). These findings suggest that regardless of children's motor imagery skills, the self-controlled demonstration method enhances basketball free throw learning. The superiority of the self-controlled condition, regardless of imagery ability, emphasizes how crucial it is to give learners control over their training when it comes to learning basketball skills.</p>","PeriodicalId":50125,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Motor Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"134-142"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146068441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Skill Differentiation in Wrestling: Relationship Between Muscle Complexity and Local Dynamic Stability in Neuromuscular Control.","authors":"Kazem Esfandiarian-Nasab, Mansour Eslami, Fateme Salari-Esker, Rohollah Yousefpour","doi":"10.1080/00222895.2025.2585184","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00222895.2025.2585184","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Complexity and local dynamic stability (LDS) of electromyographic (EMG) signals are valuable indicators for understanding motor control mechanisms and distinguishing skill levels in dynamic sports such as wrestling. This study investigates the relationship between complexity and LDS of EMG signals to understand the neuromuscular mechanisms underlying skill differentiation in wrestling. The complexity [using the Higuchi fractal dimension (FD)] and LDS [using the largest Lyapunov exponent (LLE)] activity of the upper limb muscles were calculated in elite and sub-elite wrestlers (<i>N</i> = 72) during the arm-drag and double-leg attack techniques. The correlation between complexity and LDS was evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient, and random forest analysis was used to determine their importance in differentiating skill levels. Elite wrestlers showed higher complexity, LDS, and correlation between complexity and LDS in EMG signals than sub-elite wrestlers. Random forest analysis showed that complexity is more important than LDS in differentiating skill levels. The findings show that training programs should be designed according to athletes' skill levels. Training programs should adopt a phased approach, initially targeting LDS and motor control and integrating complex exercises to promote adaptability and variability in motor responses. This approach can help athletes improve their motor control and achieve higher skill levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":50125,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Motor Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"15-30"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145650077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of Motor BehaviorPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2026-03-23DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2026.2645122
José Eduardo Dos Martírios Luz, Flavio Henrique Bastos, Guilherme Menezes Lage, Marina Gonçalves Leal, José Roberto de Maio Godoi Filho, Giordano Marcio Gatinho Bonuzzi
{"title":"Sober or Not, You Still Learn: Implicit and Explicit Motor Learning Unaffected by Moderate Alcohol.","authors":"José Eduardo Dos Martírios Luz, Flavio Henrique Bastos, Guilherme Menezes Lage, Marina Gonçalves Leal, José Roberto de Maio Godoi Filho, Giordano Marcio Gatinho Bonuzzi","doi":"10.1080/00222895.2026.2645122","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00222895.2026.2645122","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We investigated the acute effects of moderate alcohol consumption on implicit and explicit motor learning in young adult male social drinkers. Two experiments used the Serial Reaction Time Task to test whether alcohol intake before practice (Experiment 1) or immediately after practice (Experiment 2) affects implicit and explicit motor learning. Participants (<i>n</i> = 160) were randomly assigned to eight subgroups defined by learning type (implicit vs. explicit), condition (alcohol vs. placebo), and experiment, with 20 participants per subgroup. Alcohol groups ingested vodka mixed with orange soda (Fanta<sup>®</sup>, 1:4; 0.4 g/kg ethanol), whereas placebo groups received orange soda sprayed with vodka. Explicit groups memorized the repeating sequence before practice and were informed when repeated-sequence blocks began; implicit groups practiced without declarative knowledge. Participants completed seven practice blocks and a one-week retention test. Performance was quantified by a Change Score (response time difference between repeated and pseudorandom sequences), and declarative knowledge by sequence identification/recognition. Alcohol intake did not affect performance improvements or retention whether consumed before or after practice, regardless of learning condition. We conclude that moderate alcohol consumption does not impair motor memory encoding or consolidation under implicit or explicit motor learning mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":50125,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Motor Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"300-315"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147505245","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of Motor BehaviorPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2026-04-27DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2026.2650229
Gray F Thomas, Alexandra Paxton
{"title":"Ecological Prospective Memory: Grounding Prospective Control within Nested Affordances.","authors":"Gray F Thomas, Alexandra Paxton","doi":"10.1080/00222895.2026.2650229","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00222895.2026.2650229","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Every day, people plan to do something at some point in the future-with varying success remembering to do it. This challenge has inspired decades of research on prospective memory (PM), or how organisms are able to set an intention in the present and successfully execute it later in the future. Dominant theories of PM rely on representational, computational accounts and propose dual-process systems of attentional monitoring and spontaneous retrieval, which we refer to as cue and capacity (C&C) models. We present an alternative grounded in ecological psychology and argue for a more parsimonious account for PM performance through ecological concepts. We propose that directly perceiving information from the environment allows people to move from intention-in-the-present to realization-in-the-future as part of an extended action <i>via</i> nested affordances (or how taking advantage of existing opportunities for action scaffold to reveal opportunities for goal execution). We demonstrate the utility of this approach by drawing on research from skill acquisition in sports, where successful performance depends on coordinating action over time in dynamic environments. Grounded in nested affordances and the tenets of ecological psychology, we will propose a spatiotemporal specificity model and present a future research agenda to explore.</p>","PeriodicalId":50125,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Motor Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"316-337"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147786839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}