Attentional load associated with performing and stabilizing a between-persons coordination of rhythmic limb movements.
This study addressed the issue of intentional stabilization of between-persons coordination patterns (in-phase/isodirectional and anti-phase/non-isodirectional) and the attentional cost incurred by the nervous system in maintaining and further stabilizing these coordination patterns. Five pairs of participants performed in-phase and anti-phase interpersonal coordination patterns in dual-task conditions (coordination+RT task). Results showed that: (1) isodirectional pattern (in-phase) was more stable than non-isodirectional pattern (anti-phase), (2) both iso- and non-isodirectional pattern were stabilized intentionally, (3) RT was lower for the isodirectional pattern (i.e., the most stable), and (4) attentional manipulation led to a trade-off between pattern stability and RT performance. These results suggest that performing between-persons coordination patterns incurs a central cost that depends on the coupling strength between the limbs. These findings are consistent with the previous studies in intrapersonal coordination.
Temprado
Jean Jacques
JJ
Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of the Mediterranean and CNRS, 163 Avenue de Luminy, case postale BP 910, 13009 Marseille, France. temprado@laps.univ-mrs.fr
Laurent
Michel
M
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D005121:Extremities / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D011930:Reaction Time