title: Distinct digit kinematics by professional and amateur pianists.
abstract: Many everyday tasks such as typing, grasping, and object manipulation require coordination of dynamic movement across multiple joints and digits. Playing a musical instrument is also one such task where the precise movement of multiple digits is transformed into specific sounds defined by the instrument. Through extensive practice musicians are able to produce precisely controlled movements to interact with the instrument and produce specific sequences of sounds. The present study aimed to determine what aspects of these dynamic movement patterns differ between pianists who have achieved professional status compared to amateur pianists that have also trained extensively. Common patterns of movement for each digit strike were observed for both professional and amateur pianists that were sequence specific, i.e. influenced by the digit performing the preceding strike. However, group differences were found in multi-digit movement patterns for sequences involving the ring or little finger. In some sequences, amateur subjects tended to work against the innate connectivity between digits while professionals allowed slight movement at non-striking digits (covariation) which was a more economical strategy. In other sequences professionals used more individuated finger movements for performance. Thus the present study provided evidence in favor of enhancement of both movement covariation and individuation across fingers in more skilled musicians, depending on fingering and movement sequence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States; School of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States. Electronic address: swinges@lsu.edu.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Winges
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States; Department of Information and Communication Sciences, Sophia University, Tokyo 1020081, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Furuya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000502:physiology; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009146:Music; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D011361:Professional Competence; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: covariation; dynamic movement; fine motor control; independent finger movement; long-term training; multi-digit coordination