Enhancing Movement Initiation Through Sensory Cue–Feedback Pairings in Sequential Reaching Tasks

Based on findings that augmented sensory inputs can enhance motor performance, this study investigated how brief auditory and vibrotactile stimuli influenced planning and control of one and two-target movements. Specifically, augmented sensory cues and feedback were manipulated at movement initiation (as the go-signal) and at target one acquisition (as feedback). Eleven young adults (20-32years-old) used a custom stylus to perform goal-directed reaching movements to one (OT) or two targets (TT) displayed on a touchscreen. Participants completed 20 trials per condition in a counterbalanced order. Each block consisted of OT or TT movements and one sensory condition (Auditory-Auditory-AA; Auditory-Vibrotactile-AV; Vibrotactile-Auditory-VA;Vibrotactile-Vibrotactile-VV). Stylus position was recorded using optical motion capture at 400Hz. Data were analyzed using a 2 Task by 2 Cue Modality by 2 Feedback Modality repeated measures ANOVA. A significant main effect of Task, F(1,9)=5.98, p