A verbal and written description of the task was provided to participants prior to the start of the experiment. Instructions
included the following: ‘‘(1) You will be presented with 12 words or pictures (according to the condition being tested) on a computer
screen and each item will remain on the screen for three seconds before advancing to the next item, (2) At the end of the
presentation of items you will turn to the shelves and there will be two drinking glasses placed on the upper shelf, (3) Grasp both
drinking glasses around the middle at the same time and move them to the tape marks on the lower shelf, (4) On the lower shelf,
there will be a measuring cup of water and you are to fill each glass with about an inch of water, (5) You will recall the items that
had been presented to you in the same order in which they were presented.”
Participants completed the end-state comfort task for both glass orientations and both of the item sequences (total two
trials). The sequences of memory presentation and glass orientation were tested in a balanced order using the same combinations
within each condition, with participants randomly assigned to a particular order.
Twelve boxes were printed horizontally on a small, rectangle-shaped piece of paper to aid participants with the serial
recall of items. The participants pointed to a box as they recalled each item in order and said the word ‘‘something” if that
particular item could not be recalled. Participants performed the motor task at a comfortable speed, while trying to remember
as many items as possible in order. The items were recalled verbally to the researcher who recorded the responses. At the
conclusion of the experiment, participants were asked to describe what, if any, strategies they used to help remember the
items. Also, participants were asked if there were any specific aspects of the study that were difficult.