Figure 1.

Sequential self-motion decisions and the role of confidence. The brain executes a motor plan to reposition the body along a desired trajectory. Multisensory feedback allows perceptual judgement of the actual trajectory, but this may not be exactly as planned. (a) For the climber, the intended trajectory (green solid arrow) affords grasping the green handhold and advancing the foot upwards (green dashed arrow), but if the trajectory turns out to be more lateral (red solid arrow) this could prompt a more conservative approach (red handhold and dashed arrow). A low degree of confidence in the initial heading judgement would recommend the conservative strategy. (b) Similarly, the skier intends to direct her turn just in front of the next tree (green), but in actuality might be heading dangerously close to it (solid red). Low confidence should cause her to hedge and keep a more comfortable distance (dashed red). High confidence followed by a negative outcome (a branch to the face) should trigger adjustment of an internal model or sensory-motor mapping. Illustrations generated with the help of AI tools (DALL-E and Jasper AI).