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Abstract:
In 3 experiments, the authors investigated the impact of action goals on the production of discrete
bimanual responses. Similar to a bartender putting 2 glasses simultaneously on a shelf, participants
placed 2 objects into either parallel or opposite orientations by carrying out either mirror-symmetrical or
mirror-asymmetrical movements. In Experiment 1, performance was strongly affected by the congruency
of the intended object orientations but was essentially unaffected by movement symmetry. Experiment
2 replicated this instrumental goal-congruency effect (and the absence of motor-symmetry effects) when
actions were cued in advance. Experiment 3 revealed substantial motor-symmetry effects, provided the
movements themselves became the action goal. The authors concluded that performance in bimanual
choice reaction tasks is constrained by the creation and maintenance of goal codes rather than by
properties inherent in the neuromuscular system that carries out these responses. These goals can relate
to either body-intrinsic states or to body-extrinsic states according to the actor’s current intentions.
