Infinite horizon control captures modulation of movement duration in reaching movements

Movement duration, a fundamental aspect of motor control, is often viewed as a pre-programmed parameter requiring dedicated selection mechanisms. An alternative view posits that movement duration emerges from the control policy itself. Here, we demonstrate, using infinite horizon optimal feedback control (IHOFC) and nonlinear limb dynamics that this alternative hypothesis successfully captures diverse aspects of human reaching behavior, including tradeoffs between movement duration and task parameters. Specifically, we reproduced the modulation of movement duration with varying reach distances and accuracy (Fitts’ law), and extended the infinite horizon framework to include the effect of rewards and biomechanical costs. Furthermore, our model also featured a temporal evolution of feedback responses to perturbations that resembles experimental observations, and naturally accounted for motor decisions observed when participants select one among multiple goals in dynamic environments. Together, these developments show that in many cases, movement duration may not need to be specified a priori, but instead could result from task-dependent control policies. This framework validates a candidate explanation for varied movement durations, which invites to reconsider the nature and strength of evidence for the finite horizon formulation.