The isotope hydrology of Quaternary climate change.

Understanding the links between climate change and human migration and culture is an important theme in Quaternary archaeology. While oxygen and hydrogen stable isotopes in high-latitude ice cores provide the ultimate detailed record of palaeoclimate extending back to the Middle Pleistocene, groundwater can act as a climate archive for areas at lower latitudes, permitting a degree of calibration for proxy records such as lake sediments, bones, and organic matter. Not only can oxygen and hydrogen stable isotopes be measured on waters, but the temperature of recharge can be calculated from the amount of the atmospheric noble gases neon, argon, krypton, and xenon in solution, while residence time can be estimated from the decay of the radioisotopes carbon-14, chlorine-36, and krypton-81 over timescales comparable to the ice core record. The Pleistocene-Holocene transition is well characterised in aquifers worldwide, and it is apparent that isotope-temperature relationships of the present day are not necessarily transferable to past climatic regimes, with important implications for the interpretation of proxy isotope data. Groundwaters dating back to one million years, i.e., to beyond the Middle Pleistocene, are only found in major aquifer basins and information is relatively sparse and of low resolution. Speleothem fluid inclusions offer a way of considerably increasing this resolution, but both speleothem formation and large-scale groundwater recharge requires humid conditions, which may be relatively infrequent for areas currently experiencing arid climates. Both types of record therefore require caution in their interpretation when considering a particular archaeological context.

Groundwater nitrogen composition and transformation within a moorland catchment, mid-Wales.

The importance of upland groundwater systems in providing a medium for nitrogen transformations and processes along flow paths is investigated within the Afon Gwy moorland catchment, Plynlimon, mid-Wales. Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) was found to be the most abundant form of dissolved nitrogen (N) in most soils and groundwaters, accounting for between 47 and 72% of total dissolved nitrogen in shallow groundwater samples and up to 80% in deeper groundwaters. Groundwater DON may also be an important source of bio-available N in surface waters and marine systems fed by upland catchments. A conceptual model of N processes is proposed based on a detailed study along a transect of nested boreholes and soil suction samplers within the interfluve zone. Shallow groundwater N speciation reflects the soilwater N speciation implying a rapid transport mechanism and good connectivity between the soil and groundwater systems. Median nitrate concentrations were an order of magnitude lower within the soil zone (<5-31 microg/L) than in the shallow groundwaters (86-746 microg/L). Given the rapid hydrostatic response of the groundwater level within the soil zone, the shallow groundwater system is both a source and sink for dissolved N. Results from dissolved N(2)O, N(2)/Ar ratios and dissolved N chemistry suggests that microbial N transformations (denitrification and nitrification) may play an important role in controlling the spatial variation in soil and groundwater N speciation. Reducing conditions within the groundwater and saturated soils of the wet-flush zones on the lower hillslopes, a result of relatively impermeable drift deposits, are also important in controlling N speciation and transformation processes.

Assessing the applicability of global CFC and SF(6) input functions to groundwater dating in the UK.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF(6)) are increasingly being used to date recent groundwater components. While these trace gases are generally well-mixed in the atmosphere, there is evidence that local atmospheric excesses (LAEs) exist in some areas of the world, primarily associated with urbanisation and thereby affecting the interpretation of data derived from groundwater studies. Since the soil acts as a low-pass filter for atmospheric trace gas fluctuations, the possible existence of LAEs in the UK has been investigated by measuring the mixing ratios of CFC-11, CFC-12 and SF(6) in soil gases from sites within the UK's two largest cities (London and Birmingham) and a smaller urban area, Bristol. While there was some evidence of excesses, most of the measured mixing ratios for CFC-12 and SF(6) were less than 10% above the current northern hemisphere atmospheric mixing ratio (NH-AMR) values. CFC-11 was more variable, but usually less than 20% above the NH-AMR value. Surface waters were also investigated as possible short-term archives of trace-gas information but were much less consistent in performance. While the lack of significant current LAEs for SF(6) can justifiably be extrapolated to past decades, different global emission patterns mean that this is much harder to justify for the CFCs. Nevertheless, in the absence of further evidence it is concluded that the use of CFC and SF(6) input functions based on the NH-AMR curves is generally justified for the UK, with the proviso that urban groundwater investigations should not rely on the CFCs as age tracers.

A baseline survey of dissolved methane in aquifers of Great Britain.

Interest in dissolved methane (CH4) concentrations in aquifers in England, Scotland and Wales ('Great Britain' or GB) has grown concurrently with interest in the exploitation of unconventional gas sources (UGS). Experience, mainly from North America, has shown the importance of a pre-production baseline against which changes possibly due to UGS extraction can be compared. The British Geological Survey, aided by water utilities, private users and regulators, has compiled a unique dataset for CH4 in groundwaters of GB. This focuses principally on areas where UGS exploration is considered more likely, as indicated by the underlying geology. All the main water supply aquifers (Principal aquifers) were targeted, plus Secondary aquifers where locally important. The average dissolved CH4 concentration across GB in the aquifers sampled was 45µg/l. Out of a total of 343 sites, 96% showed dissolved CH4 concentrations <100µg/l, 80% <10µg/l, and 43%<1µg/l. No site had a CH4 concentration above the US Department of the Interior suggested risk action level of 10,000µg/l. While most sites were sampled only once, a subset was monitored quarterly to determine the magnitude of seasonal or other variations. Generally these variations were minor, with 84% of sites showing variations within the range 0.5-37µg/l, but some aquifers where the porosity was primarily fracture-related showed larger changes (0.5-264µg/l). This may have been due to the nature of sampling at these sites which, unlike the others, did not have installed pumps. Since the regulatory compliance monitoring attending UGS operations will include the measurement of parameters such as dissolved CH4, it is essential that sampling methods are tested to ensure that reliable and comparable datasets can be obtained.

Frontal and frontoparietal injury differentially affect the ipsilateral corticospinal projection from the nonlesioned hemisphere in monkey (Macaca mulatta).

Upper extremity hemiplegia is a common consequence of unilateral cortical stroke. Understanding the role of the unaffected cerebral hemisphere in the motor recovery process has been encouraged, in part, by the presence of ipsilateral corticospinal projections (iCSP). We examined the neuroplastic response of the iCSP from the contralesional primary motor cortex (cM1) hand/arm area to spinal levels C5-T1 after spontaneous long-term recovery from isolated frontal lobe injury and isolated frontoparietal injury. High-resolution tract tracing, stereological, and behavioral methodologies were applied. Recovery from frontal motor injury resulted in enhanced numbers of terminal labeled boutons in the iCSP from cM1 compared with controls. Increases occurred in lamina VIII and the adjacent ventral sectors of lamina VII, which are involved in axial/proximal limb sensorimotor processing. Larger frontal lobe lesions were associated with greater numbers of terminal boutons than smaller frontal lobe lesions. In contrast, frontoparietal injury blocked this response; total bouton number was similar to controls, demonstrating that disruption of somatosensory input to one hemisphere has a suppressive effect on the iCSP from the nonlesioned hemisphere. However, compared with controls, elevated bouton numbers occurred in lamina VIII, at the expense of lamina VII bouton labeling. Lamina IX boutons were also elevated in two frontoparietal lesion cases with extensive cortical injury. Because laminae VIII and IX collectively harbor axial, proximal, and distal motoneurons, therapeutic intervention targeting the ipsilateral corticospinal linkage from cM1 may promote proximal, and possibly distal, upper-limb motor recovery following frontal and frontoparietal injury.

The potential for methane emissions from groundwaters of the UK.

Methane (CH4) is only a trace constituent of the atmosphere but an important greenhouse gas. Although groundwater is unlikely to be a major source of atmospheric CH4, its contribution to the CH4 budget of the UK has up to now been poorly characterised. Groundwater CH4 concentrations have been measured on 85 samples from water-supply boreholes and a further eight from other miscellaneous water sources. Concentrations in abstracted groundwaters ranged from <0.05-42.9 microg/l for Chalk, <0.05-22 microg/l for the Lower Greensand, 0.05-21.2 microg/l for the Lincolnshire Limestone and from <0.05-465 microg/l for the Triassic sandstone. Having the largest abstraction volume, the Chalk is likely to be the main UK groundwater contributor to global CH4 emissions. A calculation to estimate the total emissions of CH4 from water-supply groundwater sources based on the median and the maximum CH4 concentrations gave values of 2.2x10(-6) and 3.3x10(-4) Tg/year. Estimates show groundwater contributes a maximum of 0.05% of all UK CH4 emissions and a further two orders of magnitude less in terms of the global CH4 budget. Other groundwater sources such as inflows to tunnels may have significantly higher CH4 concentrations, but the volume of water discharged is much lower and the overall amount of CH4 outgassed is likely to be of the same order as the aquifer release. The generally low concentrations of CH4 in groundwater supplies suggest no threat of explosion, although groundwater released by excavations remains a hazard.

Vulnerability of the medial frontal corticospinal projection accompanies combined lateral frontal and parietal cortex injury in rhesus monkey.

Concurrent damage to the lateral frontal and parietal cortex is common following middle cerebral artery infarction, leading to upper extremity paresis, paresthesia, and sensory loss. Motor recovery is often poor, and the mechanisms that support or impede this process are unclear. Since the medial wall of the cerebral hemisphere is commonly spared following stroke, we investigated the spontaneous long-term (6 and 12 month) effects of lateral frontoparietal injury (F2P2 lesion) on the terminal distribution of the corticospinal projection (CSP) from intact, ipsilesional supplementary motor cortex (M2) at spinal levels C5 to T1. Isolated injury to the frontoparietal arm/hand region resulted in a significant loss of contralateral corticospinal boutons from M2 compared with controls. Specifically, reductions occurred in the medial and lateral parts of lamina VII and the dorsal quadrants of lamina IX. There were no statistical differences in the ipsilateral CSP. Contrary to isolated lateral frontal motor injury (F2 lesion), which results in substantial increases in contralateral M2 labeling in laminae VII and IX (McNeal et al. [2010] J. Comp. Neurol. 518:586-621), the added effect of adjacent parietal cortex injury to the frontal motor lesion (F2P2 lesion) not only impedes a favorable compensatory neuroplastic response but results in a substantial loss of M2 CSP terminals. This dramatic reversal of the CSP response suggests a critical trophic role for cortical somatosensory influence on spared ipsilesional frontal corticospinal projections, and that restoration of a favorable compensatory response will require therapeutic intervention.

Control of simple arm movements in elderly humans.

Eight elderly subjects (aged 68-95 years) and 6 young adults (aged 21-24 years) performed elbow flexion and extension movements in a visual step-tracking paradigm. Movement amplitudes ranging from 10 degrees-80 degrees were made under two instructions: "move at own speed" and "move fast and accurate." In a second experiment, 5 elderly subjects practiced 30 degrees movements for a total of 180 flexion and 180 extension movements under the instruction to increase movement speed, while maintaining accuracy, during practice. Movement trajectories became more variable as both movement amplitude and speed increased. Trajectory variability was greater in the elderly subjects for both the acceleratory and deceleratory phases of movements. This was due primarily to a greater rate of increase in trajectory variability during the acceleration phase in the elderly. With practice, elderly subjects could substantially reduce trajectory variability with little change in movement speed. The agonist burst initiating movements was qualitatively normal in the elderly subjects. However, there was considerable tonic cocontraction of agonist and antagonist muscles prior to and during movement. Phasic antagonist EMG activity was obviously abnormal in many elderly subjects. There was often no clear antagonist burst associated with deceleration of the movements or, if present, it was timed inappropriately early. With practice, combined agonist-antagonist EMG variability decreased. A clear antagonist burst also developed during practice in most elderly subjects, but its inappropriate timing remained in all but one subject. The results show that movement trajectories are less accurately controlled in the elderly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Developmental lesions of visual cortex influence control of reaching.

We examined visually guided reaching movements in a young adult (EW) who had extensive bilateral lesions in the visual cortex since birth. EW lacked a right occipital lobe and ventral portions of the left and had poor visual acuity (3/400), yet could point to visual targets as quickly as 9 controls with visual cortex lesions acquired in adulthood and 4 adults without neurological disease. However, EW's endpoint variability and hand movement path curvature were much greater, especially for left hand movements, in concert with large sensorimotor transformation errors. Experimental reduction of acuity (to 3/240 or worse) in the normal controls produced symmetric increases in endpoint variability but did not change hand path curvature, indicating that EW's impaired movements were not due to poor vision alone. Results suggest that visual cortex in early life supports the development of lifelong neural mechanisms for the planning and control of reaching movements.

Disordered sensorimotor transformations for reaching following posterior cortical lesions.

Preparation for reaches to visual targets depends on sensorimotor transformations (SMT) between target and limb coordinate systems. To examine neural substrates for SMT, we studied 19 individuals with focal lesions of the visual association cortices and white matter and 11 control subjects without brain lesions. SMT were assessed by measuring accuracy of reaches to remembered locations of visually presented targets. Results showed abnormally large SMT errors in all individuals with inferior parietal lobule (IPL) lesions and some subjects with lesions of the temporo-occipital regions and in occipital area 19. Types of abnormal errors (direction or distance) varied between subjects with similar lesions, e.g. IPL. Patterns of abnormality included dissociations of distance and direction errors and of constant and variable errors. These findings are compatible with the hypothesis of different systems for guiding distance and direction of reaches distributed among structures in superior and inferior visual association cortex.

The maximum shortening velocity of muscle should be scaled with activation.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the maximum shortening velocity (Vmax) in Hill's mechanical model (A. V. Hill. Proc. R. Soc. London Ser. B. 126: 136-195, 1938) should be scaled with activation, measured as a fraction of the maximum isometric force (Fmax). By using the quick-release method, force-velocity (F-V) relationships of the wrist flexors were gathered at five different activation levels (20-100% of maximum at intervals of 20%) from four subjects. The F-V data at different activation levels can be fitted remarkably well with Hill's characteristic equation. In general, the shortening velocity decreases with activation. With the assumption of nonlinear relationships between Hill constants and activation level, a scaled Vmax model was developed. When the F-V curves for submaximal activation were forced to converge at the Vmax obtained with maximum activation (constant Vmax model), there were drastic changes in the shape of the curves. The differences in Vmax values generated by the scaled and constant Vmax models were statistically significant. These results suggest that, when a Hill-type model is used in musculoskeletal modeling, the Vmax should be scaled with activation.

Human servo responses to load disturbances in fatigued muscle.

Short and long latency EMG responses to muscle stretch and shortening were investigated in the triceps brachii muscle of 16 human subjects during a fatiguing isometric contraction. Increased amplitude reflex responses to stretch, and accentuated reductions in EMG in response to shortening, were evident as fatigue progressed in the majority of subjects. These changes indicate internal compensatory adjustments in the nervous system offsetting the deleterious mechanical effects of muscular fatigue.

Variations in soleus H-reflexes as a function of plantarflexion torque in man.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the levels of voluntary isometric contraction on the Hoffman reflex in human soleus and medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles. H-reflexes were recorded in sixteen healthy adults at each of 16 isometric plantarflexion (pf) torque levels ranging from 0-100% of their maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) and were elicited at two intensities of stimulation: (i) supramaximal for M-response and (ii) a submaximal stimulus that produced an H-reflex in soleus that was 50% of maximum H-reflex at rest. The H-reflex peak-to-peak amplitudes were linearly related to pf torque levels ranging from 0 to 50% MVC at both supramaximal and submaximal stimulus intensities. The slope of this relationship was higher for the submaximal stimulation. Beyond 60% of MVC, the soleus H-reflex amplitude showed no further increase with increasing pf torque for both stimulus intensities. Thus, beyond 50-60% of MVC the soleus H-reflex does not provide an accurate measure of soleus motor neuron pool excitability. Further experimental results showed that the H-reflex amplitude at a given torque level depended on whether torque was increasing or decreasing. When torque was increasing, the amplitude of the H-reflex was larger than when the same torque was maintained at a constant level. In contrast, if the torque was decreasing, amplitude of the reflex was lower than when torque was increasing. Therefore, variations in H-reflex amplitudes at a given torque level may be more closely correlated to the direction of the ongoing contraction than to the actual muscle force being produced at the time the H-reflex is elicited.

Mechanical characteristics of knee extension exercises performed on an isokinetic dynamometer.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate selected mechanical characteristics of knee extension exercises performed on a LIDO Active Isokinetic System. A female subject performed two repetitions of maximal effort knee extension at 16 different preset angular velocities (PAVs). The gravitational and inertial effects were included in the computation of the resultant knee torque. For each repetition, the knee flexion angle, the angular velocity and acceleration of the shank, and the knee torque throughout the range of motion were computed. The shank angular acceleration values indicated that if the inertial effect is not considered the knee torque will be underestimated in the initial phase and errors in knee torque up to about 6 N.m can be expected for the rest of the repetition. The durations when the shank angular velocity was within +/- 5% and +/- 10% of PAV (expressed as percentages of the repetition time) were found to decrease with increasing PAV. The difference between PAV and shank angular velocity at the instant of peak torque also increased with increasing PAV. The results demonstrate the limitations that may exist in an isokinetic dynamometers.

Coordination of index finger movements.

The purpose of this investigation was to describe the patterns of coordination among the joint motions of the index finger, and among the EMGs of index finger muscles. Index finger movements involving all three joints were varied in speed and direction. Joint motions were recorded along with fine-wire EMG from all the muscles that insert into the index finger. We observed nearly linear relationships for angular position between the two interphalangeal (IP) joints, and between the metacarpophalangeal (MP) and proximal IP (PIP) joints regardless of movement, speed and direction. The activities of the extrinsic flexors were of similar magnitude and were highly correlated when they acted as agonists but were poorly correlated when they acted as antagonists to the movement. Extrinsic extensor muscles behaved in this way also. The activation patterns of the intrinsic musculature correlated weakly except for extension movements voluntarily limited to the IP joints. We conclude that the highly coordinated action of the extrinsic flexors during flexion contribute importantly to the linked motions of the IP joints in part because these muscles span two or all the three index finger joints. Hence, interjoint movement patterns appear not to arise solely from restraints imposed by passive tissues, especially for fast flexion movements. The weakly correlated intrinsic muscle activity does not uncouple the flexion motions at the PIP and DIP joints because these muscles exert extensor torques at both IP joints. However, the actions of the intrinsic muscles are necessary for stabilizing the MP joint in flexion postures during IP motion and in producing motions voluntarily limited to the MP joint.

Changes in the variability of movement trajectories with practice.

We studied variability in movement phase plane trajectories (velocity-position relation) during movement. Human subjects performed 10 degrees and 30 degrees elbow flexion and extension movements in a visual step tracking paradigm. The area of ellipses with radii equal to one standard deviation in position and velocity was taken as a measure of trajectory variability. Trajectory variability was determined at 10-ms intervals throughout movements. Trajectory variability in both the acceleration and deceleration phases of movement decreased with practice. The average trajectory variability during deceleration was greater than that during acceleration even after extended practice (1000 trials). During practice, subjects usually increased movement speed while maintaining end-position accuracy. Trajectory variability was also related to movement speed when equal amounts of practice were given. Short duration (fast) movements had greater trajectory variability than long duration movements. Thus there is a tradeoff between movement speed and trajectory variability similar to the classical speed-accuracy tradeoff. Trajectory variability increased rapidly during the acceleratory phase of movement. The rate of increase was positively related to both movement amplitude and speed. Thus, the forces producing limb acceleration were variable and this variability was more marked in faster and larger movements. In contrast, trajectory variability increased more slowly or actually decreased during the deceleratory phase of movements. Forces involved in limb deceleration thus appeared to compensate to a greater or lesser degree for the variability in accelerative forces. The experiments indicate that the entire trajectory of simple limb movements is controlled by the central nervous system. Variations in accelerative forces may be compensated for by associated variations in decelerative forces. The linkage between accelerative and decelerative forces is progressively refined with practice resulting in decreased variability of the movement trajectory.

Movement related EMGs become more variable during learning of fast accurate movements.

Human subjects performed simple flexion and extension movements about the elbow in a visual step-tracking paradigm. Movements were self-terminated. Subjects were instructed to increase movement velocity while maintaining end-point accuracy during practice. The effects of practice on the pattern and variability of EMG activity of the biceps and triceps muscles were studied. Initial movements were performed using reciprocal phasic activation of agonist and antagonist muscles as indicated by surface EMGs. With practice, increases in movement speed were associated with larger agonist and antagonist bursts and an earlier onset of the antagonist burst. Decreased duration of the premovement antagonist silence was also observed during practice. Decreases in variability of movements during practice were not accompanied by equivalent decreases in variability of the associated EMGs. Surprisingly, both agonist and antagonist EMGs were more variable in faster, practiced movements. The combined agonist-antagonist EMG variability depended on both movement speed and trajectory variability. Lower variability in movements in the presence of greater variability in the related EMGs occurred because of linked variations in agonist and antagonist muscle activities. Variations in the first agonist burst were often compensated for by associated variations in the antagonist and late agonist bursts. These linked variations maintained the limb trajectory relatively constant in spite of large variations in the first agonist burst. Modifications to impulse-variability models are therefore needed to explain compensations for variability in accelerative impulses (produced by the first agonist burst) by linked variations in impulses for deceleration (produced by the antagonist and late agonist bursts).

A linked muscular activation model for movement generation and control.

A new model for movement control is presented which incorporates characteristics of impulse-variability and mass-spring models. Movements in the model were controlled with phasic torque impulses in agonist and antagonist muscles and a tonic agonist torque. Characteristics of the phasic agonist and antagonist torque profiles were based on observed properties of movement-related EMGs and muscle isometric torques. Variability of the phasic impulses depended on impulse magnitude as in impulse-variability models. The model therefore predicted a speed-accuracy tradeoff for limb movement. The time of onset and magnitude of the antagonist torque depended on the magnitude of the preceding agonist torque as indicated in studies of movement-related EMGs. This led to the new concept of linkage between the agonist and antagonist muscle forces which was shown to be important for reducing variability of fast movements. Progressive development of linkage during practice could explain the previous findings of decreased movement variability with practice coupled with increased variability of movement-related EMGs. It was concluded that an inherently variable motor system deals with the variability associated with generation of large muscle forces by linking the forces produced by opposing muscles. In this way, variability in net joint torques and in movements can be decreased without the need for the nervous system to closely regulate the individual torques.

Visual cortex activation in kinesthetic guidance of reaching.

The purpose of this research was to determine the cortical circuit involved in encoding and controlling kinesthetically guided reaching movements. We used (15)O-butanol positron emission tomography in ten blindfolded able-bodied volunteers in a factorial experiment in which arm (left/right) used to encode target location and to reach back to the remembered location and hemispace of target location (left/right side of midsagittal plane) varied systematically. During encoding of a target the experimenter guided the hand to touch the index fingertip to an external target and then returned the hand to the start location. After a short delay the subject voluntarily moved the same hand back to the remembered target location. SPM99 analysis of the PET data contrasting left versus right hand reaching showed increased (P < 0.05, corrected) neural activity in the sensorimotor cortex, premotor cortex and posterior parietal lobule (PPL) contralateral to the moving hand. Additional neural activation was observed in prefrontal cortex and visual association areas of occipital and parietal lobes contralateral and ipsilateral to the reaching hand. There was no statistically significant effect of target location in left versus right hemispace nor was there an interaction of hand and hemispace effects. Structural equation modeling showed that parietal lobe visual association areas contributed to kinesthetic processing by both hands but occipital lobe visual areas contributed only during dominant hand kinesthetic processing. This visual processing may also involve visualization of kinesthetically guided target location and use of the same network employed to guide reaches to visual targets when reaching to kinesthetic targets. The present work clearly demonstrates a network for kinesthetic processing that includes higher visual processing areas in the PPL for both upper limbs and processing in occipital lobe visual areas for the dominant limb.

Perception of forearm angles in 3-dimensional space.

The purpose of this study was to determine a preferred coordinate system for representation of forearm orientation in 3-dimensional space. In one experiment, the ability of human subjects to perceive angles of the forearm in 3-dimensional space (forearm elevation and yaw--extrinsic coordinate system) was compared to their ability to perceive elbow joint angle (intrinsic coordinate system). While blindfolded, subjects performed an angle reproduction task in which the experimenter first positioned the upper limb in a reference trial. This was followed, after movement of the subject's entire upper limb to a different position, by an attempt to reproduce or match a criterior angle of the reference trial by motion of the forearm in elbow flexion or extension only. Note that matching of the criterion forearm angle in the new upper limb position could not be accomplished by reproducing the entire reference upper limb position, but only by angular motion at the elbow. Matching of all 3 criterion angles was accomplished with about equal accuracy in terms of absolute constant errors and variable errors. Correlation analysis of the perceptual errors showed that forearm elevation and elbow angle perception errors were not biased but that forearm yaw angle matching showed a bias toward elbow angle matching in 7 of 9 subjects. That is errors in forearm yaw perception were attributed to a tendency toward a preferred intrinsic coordinate system for perception of forearm orientation. These results show that subjects can accurately perceive angles in both extrinsic and intrinsic coordinate systems in 3-dimensional space. Thus, these data conflict with previous reports of highly inaccurate perception of elbow joint angles in comparison to perception of forearm elevation. In an attempt to resolve this conflict with previous results, a second experiment was carried out in which perception of forearm elevation and elbow joint angles with the forearm motion constrained to a vertical plane. Results of this experiment showed that during a two-limb elbow angle matching task, four of five subjects exhibited a clear bias toward forearm elevation angle. During a one-limb angle reproduction task only two of five subjects exhibited such a bias. Perception of elevation angles show little bias toward elbow angle matching.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)