Bimanual Control Processes and the Role of Handedness

Objective: Bimanual movements are a fundamental motor skill. Whereas substantial research is available from right-handers, much less is known from left-handers. Accordingly, in the present electroencephalography (EEG) study we evaluated bimanual behavior in left- versus right-handers. Method: Thirte...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuropsychology 2012-11, Vol.26 (6), p.802-807
Main Authors: Serrien, Deborah J, Sovijärvi-Spapé, Michiel M, Farnsworth, Bryn
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activity levels. Psychomotricity
Adult
Behavioral psychophysiology
Biological and medical sciences
Brain - physiology
Electroencephalography
Electroencephalography - instrumentation
Electroencephalography - methods
Electrophysiology
Functional Laterality - physiology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hand - physiology
Handedness
Human
Humans
Lateral Dominance
Motor Activity - physiology
Motor Skills
Neuropsychological Tests
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Psychomotor activities
Young Adult
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Summary:Objective: Bimanual movements are a fundamental motor skill. Whereas substantial research is available from right-handers, much less is known from left-handers. Accordingly, in the present electroencephalography (EEG) study we evaluated bimanual behavior in left- versus right-handers. Method: Thirteen left-handers and 13 right-handers took part in the experiment. Cortical dynamics were evaluated by means of EEG coherence in the beta frequency band (14-28 Hz), and behavioral performance was measured using motor error. Results: The EEG data revealed that right-handers showed a left-sided lateralization pattern whereas left-handers demonstrated a bilateral organization pattern during symmetrical actions. Asymmetry of the bimanual task demands modified the hemispheric profile for both groups and resulted in an additional involvement of the motor-nondominant hemisphere. Brain-behavioral correlations underlined that response planning strongly relied on the left hemisphere irrespective of handedness whereas the motor-dominant hemisphere drove response execution. Conclusion: The findings suggest that skilled motor planning may develop preferentially in the left hemisphere.
ISSN:0894-4105
1931-1559
DOI:10.1037/a0030154