This study compared the performance for rotary hand and arm movements in the vertical plane in a target-aiming task. The results show that hand movements produce an information rate of some 11 bits/sec., which is (a) 30% higher than that generated by arm movements at the elbow joint, (b) 134% higher than that generated by arm rotations in the horizontal plane with the elbow free, and (c) twice the rate of linear hand movements. Significant performance differences were noted between individuals (n = 5).
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