Title: A behaviour study of the effects of visual feedback on fluctuating isometric force production with force tracking tasks

Authors: Wensheng Hou, Shan Shen, Andre J. Szameitat, Yingtao Jiang, Jun Zheng, Monique Van Loon, Annette Sterr

Addresses: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China. ' Psychology Department, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK. ' Psychology Department, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK. ' Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA. ' Department of Computer Science, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, USA. ' Psychology Department, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK. ' Psychology Department, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK

Abstract: The primary goal of this study is to explore the impacts of visual feedback gain and the force varying rate on the continuously fluctuating isometric force production. Twelve recruited participants have been instructed to complete the handgrip tasks that require the participant to control his or her grip force level to track a moving target bar which is proportional to the real-time force production. Two visual feedback gain levels and two force varying rates have been tested. The results show that high visual feedback gain and force varying rate will lead to larger errors of force production.

Keywords: visual feedback gain; force production; Fitts law; isometric force; force tracking; force varying rate; hand grip tasks; grip force.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2008.020067

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2008 Vol.1 No.4, pp.367 - 381

Published online: 25 Aug 2008 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article