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Abstract:
Abstract: Perceptual and motor tasks that require precise
temporal information in the millisecond range are hypothesized to
utilize a common internal timing system. However, we have recently
found that temporal variability on a repetitive finger tapping task
is not correlated with temporal variability on a circle drawing
task (Robertson, et al., 1999, JEP:HP&P). One difference
between these two tasks is that the movement is continuous during
circle drawing, whereas people tend to pause during the tapping
task. In the present experiment we examined correlations across
four tasks: finger tapping, continuous circle drawing, intermittent
circle drawing, and duration perception. In tapping and drawing
tasks, movement frequency was 1.2 Hz. However, the intermittent
circle task required a pause for approximately half of the cycle
duration. We hypothesized that the insertion of a pause would
require explicit representation of the target interval, similar to
that required in tapping and duration perception tasks. In
contrast, temporal control in continuous drawing tasks may be
indirect. As predicted, significant correlations were obtained
between finger tapping, intermittent circle drawing, and perception
tasks. There were no significant correlations of these tasks with
the continuous circle drawing task. The results are in accord with
the hypothesis that temporal control of periodic movements may be
either explicit or indirect.
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