The purpose of this study was to add to the body of psychometric evidence underlying the Dean-Woodcock Sensory Motor Battery (DWSMB) and the theory of sensory motor functioning. Secondly, this study added to the body of literature concerning the role of both cortical and subcortical areas of the brain in motor functioning.The DWSMB is a new battery designed to meet the emerging trends in neuropsychology. It combines the qualitative functionality of the sensory and motor tests used by clinical neurologists with the quantitative, performance-driven sensory motor tests found in traditional neuropsychological assessment batteries. The DWSMB consists of eight tests of sensory functions, seven tests of cortical motor functions, and three tests of subcortical motor functions.A population sample of 441 participants were administered the DWSMB, 340 of which had no reported neurological or psychiatric history. These data were analyzed using an exploratory factor analysis to determine the number of constructs underlying the DWSMB. The study found three factors: a Complex Sensory Motor Factor, a Simple Sensory Factor, and a Subcortical Motor Factor. The three constructs found in this study provided empirical support for the underlying theory of the DWSMB, which will allow neuropsychologists to make inferences about the resulting scores. / Department of Educational Psychology

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-143). Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D)--Northeastern University, 2008. / Title from title page (viewed March 25, 2009). Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Psychology. Includes bibliographical references (p. 154-161).

Thesis (Sc. D.)--Louisiana Tech University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 246-257).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1965. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.PsychSport&Ex.) - University of Queensland, 2004. / Includes bibliography.

Thesis (Ph.D. )--University of Delaware, 2006. / Principal faculty advisor: Cole Galloway, Dept. of Physical Therapy. Includes bibliographical references: (leaves 126-138). Also available in print.

Thesis (Sc. D.)--Louisiana Tech University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 246-257).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Delaware, 2006. / Principal faculty advisor: James C. Galloway, Dept. of Physical Therapy. Includes bibliographical references.

Performing goal-directed hand-movements in the presence of obstacles is a task that we usually complete successfully many times a day without much conscious consideration. Yet, little is known about the underlying processes. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the role of perceptual, motor and cognitive constraints on obstacle avoidance during reaching. To do this a tabletop-based obstacle avoidance setup and motiontracking were used. In the first experimental chapter, the previously reported tendency of participants to select movement paths that pass roughly through the mid-point between two obstacles was examined. The starting position of the hand and the availability of visual feedback were manipulated and evidence was found that movement path selection depends on both a collision-avoidance strategy and the associated biomechanical costs; even when visual feedback is unavailable. The second experimental chapter investigated an action-blindsight phenomenon, specifically the ability of cortically blind patients to avoid unseen obstacles. It was found that only two out of the six patients tested potentially showed some residual sensitivity to obstacles in their blind visual field. The final two experimental chapters went further to examine the role of perceptual information and attentional mechanisms respectively. It was found that during obstacle avoidance participants predominantly look at the movement target and rarely towards any obstacles or their moving hand. Furthermore, they tend to move their hand away from obstacles that are fixated. Finally, it was also found that a concurrent attentional task affected movement path selection in a similar way. At present it is unclear whether these perceptual and attentional effects are additive or independent of each other. Overall, these findings suggest that both conscious visual information and attentional mechanisms are crucial factors in determining movement path selection during obstacle avoidance in reaching.