Target interception in virtual reality is better for natural versus unnatural trajectory shapes and orientations

Human performance in perceptual and visuomotor tasks is enhanced when stimulus motion follows the laws of gravitational physics, including acceleration consistent with Earth's gravity, g. Here we used a manual interception task in virtual reality to investigate the effects of trajectory shape and orientation on interception timing and accuracy. Participants punched to intercept a ball moving along one of four trajectories that varied in shape (parabola or tent) and orientation (upright or inverted). We also varied the location of visual fixation such that trajectories fell entirely within the lower or upper visual field. Reaction times were faster for more natural shapes and orientations, regardless of visual field. Overall accuracy was poorer and movement time was longer for the inverted tent condition than the other three conditions, perhaps because it was imperfectly reminiscent of a bouncing ball. A detailed analysis of spatial errors revealed that interception endpoints were more likely to fall along the path of the final trajectory in upright vs. inverted conditions, suggesting stronger expectations regarding the final trajectory direction for these conditions. Taken together, these results suggest that the naturalness of the shape and orientation of a trajectory contributes to performance in a virtual interception task.