Transfer of dynamic learning across postures.

"Support for distinct mappings is also provided by the sit group, which shows that after learning a sensorimotor map for arm control in one supporting posture, the postural system can immediately generate perturbation-specific anticipatory activity needed in a novel posture. A single controller that maps desired arm and postural movement onto the required command signals would have led to similar learning rates and no generalization. But this is not supported by the independent learning rates or by the transfer of learning observed. This implies that the CNS employs a modular approach to dynamics learning where two separate mappings: one of the novel arm dynamics and one of the body posture are used to predict and compensate for dynamics in multiple postures. Evidence for distinct representations for posture and movement at the neuronal level has been shown previously (). Such a modular approach, although more computationally demanding, would allow for more flexible control and generalization of dynamics learning. GRANTS: This work was funded by The Wellcome Trust, The European SENSOPAC Project (IST-2005-028056), and The Whitaker Foundation."