title: Interaction between interpersonal and postural coordination during frequency scaled rhythmic sway: the role of dance expertise.
abstract: Light fingertip touch between partners swaying rhythmically side by side evokes interpersonal synchrony. In non-dancers and dancers swaying to a metronome, we examined the effects of frequency scaling and touch between the partners on both postural (ankle-hip) and inter-personal coordination. In both groups, touch did not interfere with the ankle-hip coordination. In non-dancers but not dancers, increasing frequency resulted in a loss of the ankle-hip coupling that was accompanied by a reduction of the touch mediated interpersonal synchrony. It is suggested that the effect of touch on interpersonal synchrony depends on the reliability of the haptic information sensed at the fingertip and assumes an in phase ankle-hip coupling. These findings have implications in clinical practice when using touch to help balance impaired individuals.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Motor Control and Learning, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sofianidis
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Brain Sciences Centre, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mark T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Brain Sciences Centre, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wing
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Motor Control and Learning, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: vaso1@phed.auth.gr.
authors.forename: Vassilia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hatzitaki
mesh_terms: D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003615:Dancing / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ankle–hip coordination; Dance; Interpersonal synchrony; Light touch; Metronome