LE3 .A278 2018

2018

Champod, Anne Sophie

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Psychology

Psychology

The purpose of the present study was to determine the optimal prism strength for producing prism adaptation (PA) effects of different magnitude using a new procedure (Peg-the-Mole, PTM). Seventy-five participants used PTM for three blocks of trials with sham goggles (group 1: 0° goggles) or with prism goggles inducing an optical shift of 5° (group 2), 10° (group 3), 15° (group 4) or with a gradual procedure (group 5: 1st block-5°, 2nd - 0°, 3rd -15°). Two pointing outcome tasks (measuring the proprioceptive and visual shift induced by the procedure) were administered before and after PTM to measure aftereffects (i.e., a shift in pointing movements from pre-to post-PA). The 10° prisms induced larger aftereffects than the 5° and sham goggles. The 10°, 15°, and the gradual procedures induced pointing aftereffects of equivalent magnitude. These findings will be used in the planning of event-related potential (ERP) studies that will examine the neural mechanisms underlying these PA effects.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:2611