Bimanual circle drawing during secondary task loading.
Seven right-handed participants performed bimanual circling movements in either a symmetrical or an asymmetrical coordination mode. Movements were paced with an auditory metronome at predetermined frequencies corresponding to transition frequency, where asymmetrical patterns became unstable, or at two-thirds transition frequency where both symmetrical and asymmetrical patterns were stable. The pacing tones were presented in either a high (1000 Hz) or low (500 Hz) pitch, and the percentage of high-pitched tones during a 20 s trial varied between 0% and 70%. Participants were instructed to count the number of high-pitched pacing tones that occurred during a trial of bimanual circling. Overall, the symmetrical pattern was more stable than the asymmetrical pattern at both frequencies. Errors on the tone-counting task were significantly higher during asymmetrical circling than symmetrical circling but only at the transition movement frequency. The results suggest that cognitive processes play a role in maintaining coordination patterns within regions of instability.
Summers
J J
JJ
Department of Psychology, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia 4350.
Byblow
W D
WD
Bysouth-Young
D F
DF
Semjen
A
A
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology