title: Bimanual control processes and the role of handedness.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that skilled motor planning may develop preferentially in the left hemisphere.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom. deborah.serrien@nottingham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Deborah J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Serrien
authors.forename: Michiel M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sovijärvi-Spapé
authors.forename: Bryn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Farnsworth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D055815:Young Adult