Velocity perception and proprioception

Proprioceptive information related to position and velocity reaches conscious perception and appears to be processed simultaneously via separate perceptual channels. Determining the fidelity of velocity perception is difficult, however, because of the interaction of distance and timing information in its derivation. There is also a complex relationship between receptor discharge and kinematic variables and thresholds for detection of proprioceptive information are increased during movement. Experiments determined the discrimination thresholds for different movement velocities when i) movement distance remained constant and duration varied; ii) movement duration remained constant and distance varied; iii) movement distance and duration were randomly varied. Discrimination thresholds increased as movement velocity increased. Velocity perception was more accurate when distance and timing cues were available, particularly at higher velocities. These results indicate that all available cues are used to make judgements of movement velocity