Computational principles of sensorimotor control that minimize uncertainty and variability

doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2006.120121

Computational principles of sensorimotor control that minimize uncertainty and variability

Paul M. Bays¹ and
Daniel M. Wolpert²

¹Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, UK ²Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK

Corresponding author P. M. Bays: Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, UK. Email: p.bays{at}ion.ucl.ac.uk

Abstract

Sensory and motor noise limits the precision with which we can sense the world and act upon it. Recent research has begun to reveal computational principles by which the central nervous system reduces the sensory uncertainty and movement variability arising from this internal noise. Here we review the role of optimal estimation and sensory filtering in extracting the sensory information required for motor planning, and the role of optimal control, motor adaptation and impedance control in the specification of the motor output signal.