title: Increased visual information gain improves bimanual force coordination.
abstract: Bimanual force control requiring asymmetrical forces between limbs is more challenging than bimanual force control when the limbs produce symmetrical forces. Previous studies investigated visual information gains between 8 and 80 pixels/N to facilitate asymmetrical force control. Given that previous studies limited visual information gain to 80 pixels/N, the current experiment expanded the range by increasing visual information gains (8, 80, 256, and 512 pixels/N). A second manipulation involved three task constraint coefficients imposed on bimanual force control: (a) left-biased, (b) right-biased, and (c) equal-biased. Analyses of 15 right-handed adult volunteers revealed a decrease in bimanual force variability and more negative correlation coefficient with increased visual information gain in the equal biased condition. Significant reductions in bimanual force variability were found between 8 and 80 pixels/N. In contrast, significant improvements in coordination patterns between hands continued up to 256 pixels/N. These novel findings demonstrate that bimanual force coordination was more sensitive to an increase in visual information gains (>80 pixels/N) than bimanual force variability.
authors.affiliation: Motor Behavior Laboratory, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Amitoj
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhullar
authors.affiliation: Motor Behavior Laboratory, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Nyeonju
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Motor Behavior Laboratory, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Jerelyne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Idica
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Physiology Laboratory, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Evangelos A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Christou
authors.affiliation: Motor Behavior Laboratory, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. Electronic address: cauraugh@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cauraugh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bimanual; Coordination; Force control; Task asymmetry; Visual information