The Two-Thirds Power Law Derived from a Higher-Derivative Action

Abstract

The two-thirds power law is a link between angular speed ω and curvature κ observed in voluntary human movements: ω is proportional to κ2/3. Squared jerk is known to be a Lagrangian leading to the latter law. However, it leads to unbounded movements and is therefore incompatible with quasi-periodic dynamics, such as the movement of the tip of a pen drawing ellipses. To solve this drawback, we give a class of higher-derivative Lagrangians that allow for both quasi-periodic and unbounded movements, and at the same time lead to the two-thirds power law. The current study extends this framework and investigates a wider class of Lagrangians admitting generalised conservation laws.