Vestibular contributions to the information processing rate of the head/neck complex

The authors assess the applicability of Fitts' law for the prediction of head movement time in healthy university males. Another central issue is addressed; namely, the effect that the presence of onboard sensors in the head (i.e. the vestibular system and the visual system) has on the information processing capability of the head/neck complex. It was found that the information processing rages (the inverse of the regression slope parameter in Fitts' equation) for each subjects's head movement ranged from 4 to 8 b/s. In the overall regression equation, the information processing rate for the experimental head movement was 7 b/s. This rate is much less than that of the extremities during reciprocal tapping tasks. Explanations for this difference are offered.<
>