A continuum from predictive to online feedback in visuomotor interception

Abstract

Interception, essential for activities like driving and sports, can be characterized by varying degrees of predictive behaviour. We developed a visually guided task to explore how target predictability and visibility influenced interception actions. The task featured a falling dot influenced by horizontal velocity, gravity and air friction, with predictability manipulated through external forces that altered the target's trajectory. We also introduced spatial occlusion to limit visual information. Our results show that low target variability favoured predictive behaviours, while high variability led to more reactive responses relying on online feedback. Manual responses displayed increased variability with changes in target motion, whereas eye trajectories maintained constant curvature across conditions. Additionally, higher target variability delayed the onset of hand movements but did not affect eye movement onset, making gaze position a poor predictor of hand position. This distinction highlights the different adaptive patterns in hand and eye movements in response to target trajectory changes. Participants maintained stable interception behaviours within and across sessions, indicating individual preferences for either predictive or more reactive actions. Our findings reveal a dynamic interplay between target predictability and interception, illustrating how humans combine predictive and reactive behaviours to manage external variability.