Some perceptual and cognitive factors in mirror tracing: their limits

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Authors
Borresen, C. Robert
Klingsporn, M. J.
Advisors
Issue Date
1992-10
Type
Article
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Research Projects
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Citation
The Journal of general psychology. 1992 Oct; 119(4): 365-84.
Abstract

Three mirror tracing experiments were conducted to investigate the connection between perception and motor behavior. In the first experiment, some subjects traced a hex-maze, other subjects traced a hex-maze after observing a model trace, others traced a hex-maze after reading instructions on mirror images, and others traced a hex-maze after having observed a model and heard the instructions. There were no significant differences between the groups' error scores, but their time scores differed significantly, although not always in the predicted direction. In Experiment 2, the subjects were to trace selected letters of the alphabet. Error scores for the second experiment did not differ much from those for the first experiment. In Experiment 3, the experimenter gave each subject commands for the correct directions of movement, using the subject's body as a frame-of-reference. There was little improvement in motor performance. These results suggest that the visual information presented in the mirror captured the subjects' attention and blocked their motor tracing program.

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Publisher
Routledge
Journal
Book Title
Series
The Journal of General Psychology
J Gen Psychol
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
0022-1309
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