Advances In Psychology

INSIGHTS INTO THE REACH TO GRASP MOVEMENT ADVANCES IN PSYCHOLOGY 105 Editors: G . E. STELMACH P.A. VROON - NORTH-HOLLAND AMSTERDAM LONDON NEW YORK TOKYO INSIGHTS INTO THE REACH TO GRASP MOVEMENT Edited by Keree M. B. BENNETT General Psychology Department University of Padova Padova, Italy Umberto CASTIELLO Department of Psychology University of Bologna Bologna, Italy 1994 NORTH-HOLLAND AMSTERDAM LONDON NEW YORK TOKYO ELSEVIER SCIENCE B.V. Sara Burgerhartstraat 25 P.O. Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, The Netherlands Llbrary o f Congress Cataloging-ln-Publication Data Insights into the reach t o grasp movement / edited by Keree H.B. Bennett. Umberto Castlello p. cm. -- (Advances in psychology) Includes blbllographical references and indexes. ISBN 0-444-89931-6 1. Hand--Movements. I. Bennett. Keree M. B., 196011. Castlello. UDbertO. 1959111. Series: Advances in psychology (Ansterdan. Netherlands) ; 105. OP334.1565 1994 152.3--d~20 93-47507 CIP . . ISBN: 0 444 89931 6 0 1994 ELSEVER SCIENCE 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 or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher, Elsevier Science B.V., Copyright & Permissions Department, 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 in the U.S.A. All other copyright questions, including photocopying outside of the U.S.A., should be referred to the publisher. No responsibility is assumed by the publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or 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. This book is printed on acid-free paper. Printed in The Netherlands To Eliah This Page Intentionally Left Blank vii Preface The number and diversity of authors who have agreed to contribute to this publication is sufficient evidence in itself to indicate that the study of the reach to grasp movement is not a trivial venture. The professions covered in this book range from those interested in the basic sciences to those more interested in practical application. Neurophysiologists and biomechanists join with therapists and neural modelers to present an extensive overview of current developments in this field. Evolutionary and developmental aspects are included together with descriptions of how this movement is affected by central nervous system damage. Purely theoretical aspects of the motor control of this movement are interspersed with treatment applications and robotics. Interest in the reach to grasp movement wa