Hand function: peripheral and central constraints on performance

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) 2004-06, Vol.96 (6), p.2293-2300
• Main Authors: Schieber, Marc H, Santello, Marco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Coordination; Fingers - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hand - innervation; Hand - physiology; Hand Strength; Hands; Human mechanics; Humans; Motor ability; Motor Activity; Motor Cortex - physiology; Movement; Nervous system; Spinal Cord - physiology; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01063.2003

1 Departments of Neurology and of Neurobiology and Anatomy and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program at St. Mary's Hospital, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642; and 2 Department of Kinesiology and The Harrington Department of Bioengineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287 The hand is one of the most fascinating and sophisticated biological motor systems. The complex biomechanical and neural architecture of the hand poses challenging questions for understanding the control strategies that underlie the coordination of finger movements and forces required for a wide variety of behavioral tasks, ranging from multidigit grasping to the individuated movements of single digits. Hence, a number of experimental approaches, from studies of finger movement kinematics to the recording of electromyographic and cortical activities, have been used to extend our knowledge of neural control of the hand. Experimental evidence indicates that the simultaneous motion and force of the fingers are characterized by coordination patterns that reduce the number of independent degrees of freedom to be controlled. Peripheral and central constraints in the neuromuscular apparatus have been identified that may in part underlie these coordination patterns, simplifying the control of multi-digit grasping while placing certain limitations on individuation of finger movements. We review this evidence, with a particular emphasis on how these constraints extend through the neuromuscular system from the behavioral aspects of finger movements and forces to the control of the hand from the motor cortex. finger; cortex; motor; muscle; tendon Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: M. H. Schieber, Univ. of Rochester Medical Center, Dept. of Neurology, 601 Elmwood Ave., Box 673, Rochester, NY 14642 (E-mail: mhs{at}cvs.rochester.edu ).