On the nature of movement representation in memory

Theoretical views of movement representation in memory range from positions which rely upon response‐produced feedback as an integral part of the stored representation to perspectives which claim that a memory record is abstract in nature, void of any sensory details. Previous investigations that varied the storage‐test conditions using a short‐term memory paradigm have consistently supported a feedback‐based view. Two experiments described here, which employed a learning paradigm, also provide evidence to suggest that movement representation is embedded with response‐produced feedback information available during the acquisition trials. While potentially damaging to abstract representation theories of motor learning, theoretical limitations of the present findings are also explored.