Dissociation of the Visual Placing Response into Elicited and Guided Components

Abstract

Kittens reared without sight of their limbs extended their forelimbs when carried down toward the edge of a horizontal surface. However, unlike normally reared kittens, they were not capable of guiding their paws accurately to the solid parts of an interrupted surface. This fractionation of the visually controlled placing response reveals that the guided reach requires an integration of sensorimotor systems not necessary for development of the elicited extension response.