What determines choice of limb for unimanual reaching movements?
Currently, relatively little is known about what drives the choice of limb for goal-oriented reaching. Traditionally, the explanation has been tied predominately to motor dominance as manifested in handedness. This article offers data and an argument suggesting that handedness can be modified by attentional (spatial) information. Although motor dominance may be the controlling factor in the programming and execution of reaching movements at the midline and hemispace ipsilateral (same side) to the dominant limb, attentional information alters the programming of movements in what would be contralateral space. The general trend of behavior is characterized by reaching on the same side as the stimulus, in ipsilateral fashion, a phenomenon explained by kinesthetic efficiency and hemispheric bias.
Gabbard
C
C
Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-4243, USA. cpg8800@acs.tamu.edu
Rabb
C
C
D001288:Attention; D002755:Choice Behavior; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*