Bimanual finger tapping: Effects of frequency and auditory information on timing consistency and coordination

Author(s): Whitall, J.

Journal/Book: J Motor Behav. 2000; 32: 1319 Eighteenth St NW, Washington, DC 20036-1802, USA. Heldref Publications. 176-191.

Abstract: The authors' goal in this study was to probe the basis for an earlier, unexpected finding that preferred-frequency finger tapping tends to have higher frequencies and to be less stable for in-phase than for antiphase tasks. In follow-up experiments, 3 protocols were employed: a preferred-frequency replication in both coordination modes, a metronome-driven matching of the preferred frequencies to each of the coordination modes, and a frequency scaling of both modes. The original findings were affirmed for preferred frequency. Tapping to a metronome had a differential effect on in-phase and antiphase: A more stable coupling across frequencies was exhibited during in-phase. Under frequency scaling, the antiphase pattern decomposed at lower fre- quencies than did in-phase, but no phase transitions were observed. The loss of stable coordination in both modes was attended by sudden increases in frequency differences between fingers and by phase wandering. The emergence of those effects is discussed in light of asymmetric modifications to the Haken-Kelso-Bunz model (H. Haken, J. A. S. Kelso, & H. Bunz, 1985) and the task constraints of tapping.

Note: Article Whitall J, Univ Maryland, Dept Phys Therapy, 100 Penn St, Baltimore,MD 21201 USA

Keyword(s): bimanual coordination; pattern stability; tapping; PHASE-ENTRAINMENT DYNAMICS; COUPLED RHYTHMIC MOVEMENTS; CRITICAL FLUCTUATIONS; TRANSITIONS; SYMMETRY; ASYMMETRIES; HANDEDNESS; BEHAVIOR

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