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During the past two decades, there has been a dramatic increasein interest in the study of motor control and learning. In thisvolume authors from a variety of backgrounds and theoreticalperspectives review their research with particular emphasis onthe methods and paradigms employed, and the future direction oftheir work. The book is divided into four main sections. Thefirst section contains chapters examining general issues andtrends in the movement behaviour field. The remaining threesections contain chapters from scientists working in threebroadly defined areas of interest: coordination and control;visuo-motor processes; and movement disorders. Each sectionprovides an overview of the different approaches and differentlevels of analysis being used to examine specific topics withinthe motor domain.
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APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF MOTOR CONTROL AND LEARNING ADVANCES IN PSYCHOLOGY 84 Editors: G. E. STELMACH P.A. VROON NORTH-HOLLAND AMSTERDAM LONDON NEW YORK TOKYO APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF MOTOR CONTROL AND LEARNING Edited by Jeffery J. SUMMERS Department of Psychology University c$Melbour.ne Parkvillr, Victoria Australia NORTH-HOLLAND AMSTERDAM LONDON NEW YORK -TOKYO NORTH-HOLLAND ELSEVIER SCIENCE PUBLISHERS B.V. Sara Burgerhartstraat 25 P.O. Box 2 I I , 1000 A E Amsterdam. The Netherlands Distributors for the United States and Canada: ELSEVIER SCIENCE PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. 655 Avenue of the Americas New York, N.Y. 10010. U.S.A. ISBN: 0 444 XU455 6 01992 ELSEVIER SCIENCE PUBLISHERS B.V. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced. stored in a retrieval system. or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic. mechanical. photocopying. recording o r otherwise. without the prior written permission of the publisher, Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Permissions Deparrment. P.O. Box 521, 1000 AM Amsterdam. The Netherlands. Special regulations for readers in the U.S.A. - This publication has been registered with the Copyright Clearance Center Inc. (CCC), Salem. Massachusetts. Information can be obtained from the CCC about conditions under which photocopies of parts of this publication may be made i n the U.S.A. All other copyright questions, including photocopying outside of the U.S.A.. should be referred to the copyright owner. Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., unless otherwise specified. umed by the publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons o r property as a matter of products liability. negligence or otherwise. or from any use or operation of any methods, products. instructions or ideas contained in the material herein. Printed in The Netherlands V Preface During the past two decades, there has been dramatic increase in interest in the study of motor behaviour. The aim of the present volume is to capture the diversity of topics, methods, and paradigms that currently characterise research in motor control and learning. The chapters cover the different approaches and different levels of analysis being adopted to examine the processes involved in the acquisition and control of a variety of skills, ranging from discrete arm movements to catching and handwriting. In selecting contributors to the volume I aimed at a blend of authors with established reputations in the field and younger authors in the early stage of their research careers. The contributors were asked to review their research with particular emphasis on the methods and paradigms employed, the reasons for adopting a particular approach, and the future direction of their work. Contributors who have been working in a area for some time were also asked to discuss how their research methodology, and the questions being asked, have changed over time. Within this general framework, authors were free to choos