Vision and haptics : how sensorimotor interactions influence grasping

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the sensory contributions to hand preference for grasping. While numerous studies have investigated this preference for visually-guided grasping (a left-hemisphere specialization), very few have documented it during haptically-guided actions (a right-hemisphere specialization). In a series of four studies, participants (healthy adults, congenitally blind, and children) were asked to replicate 3D-block models from a tabletop of blocks while the hand used for grasping was recorded. Overall the results showed a right-hand preference for grasping independent of age and visual experience (but not sensory modality). Haptics played a modest, yet significant, role in modulating hand preference, as there was a significant reduction in right-hand use in the absence of vision (i.e. during haptically-guided grasping). Because the left hand was never used more than 50% of the time, these findings support the theory of a default right-hand/left-hemisphere specialization for grasping that is modulated by haptics.

Authors

• Stone, Kayla D.
• University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science

• Hand preference
• Sensory
• Vision
• Touch
• Proprioception
• Development
• Congenitally blind
• Sensory deprivation
• Handedness
• Grasping

Identifier

hdl:10133/3746

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:opus.uleth.ca:10133/3746