Résumé
Visuomotor adaptation has long been framed as arising implicitly (i.e., unconsciously). Recent evidence highlights a role for explicit (i.e., cognitive strategy) contributions. Across three experiments, we show how movement strategies, target choice, and attentional focus influence visuomotor adaptation. Participants reached with cursor feedback that was either aligned or rotated 40° clockwise relative to their hand motion. Explicit and implicit adaptation were assessed using the process dissociation procedure. In Experiment 1, participants reported either the direction their hand should aim, the endpoint of their movement, or made no report before reaching. Visuomotor adaptation was greatest for the Direction group, including enhanced explicit strategy use during and following training, while implicit adaptation was similar across groups. In Experiment 2, a Choice group selected their reach target, while a Yoked group reached to targets in the same order without choice. Although both groups adapted their reaches to a similar extent, the Choice group exhibited greater explicit adaptation following training, while implicit adaptation was similar between groups. In Experiment 3, participants adopted either an external (on the cursor) or internal (on their hand) focus of attention or received no focus instruction. The internal focus group adapted their reaches to a greater extent compared to the external focus group, yet with comparable contributions of explicit and implicit adaptation. Across studies, explicit adaptation was modulated by cognitive processes, while implicit adaptation remained stable. These findings support a dissociation between explicit and implicit contributions to visuomotor adaptation, with only the former sensitive to top-down influences.
