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Takagi A, Kashino M. Distribution of control during bimanual movement and stabilization. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16506. [PMID: 39019893 PMCID: PMC11255328 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67303-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024] Open
Abstract
In two-handed actions like baseball batting, the brain can allocate the control to each arm in an infinite number of ways. According to hemispheric specialization theory, the dominant hemisphere is adept at ballistic control, while the non-dominant hemisphere is specialized at postural stabilization, so the brain should divide the control between the arms according to their respective specialization. Here, we tested this prediction by examining how the brain shares the control between the dominant and non-dominant arms during bimanual reaching and postural stabilization. Participants reached with both hands, which were tied together by a stiff virtual spring, to a target surrounded by an unstable repulsive force field. If the brain exploits each hemisphere's specialization, then the dominant arm should be responsible for acceleration early in the movement, and the non-dominant arm will be the prime actor at the end when holding steady against the force field. The power grasp force, which signifies the postural stability of each arm, peaked at movement termination but was equally large in both arms. Furthermore, the brain predominantly used the arm that could use the stronger flexor muscles to mainly accelerate the movement. These results point to the brain flexibly allocating the control to each arm according to the task goal without adhering to a strict specialization scheme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Takagi
- NTT Communication Science Laboratories, 3-1 Morinosato Wakamiya, Atsugi, Kanagawa, 243-0198, Japan.
| | - Makio Kashino
- NTT Communication Science Laboratories, 3-1 Morinosato Wakamiya, Atsugi, Kanagawa, 243-0198, Japan
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2
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Liu Y, Islam J, Radford K, Tkachman O, Gick B. Tonguedness in speech: Lateral bias in lingual bracing. JASA EXPRESS LETTERS 2024; 4:025203. [PMID: 38341684 PMCID: PMC10848656 DOI: 10.1121/10.0024756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
This study examines the lateral biases in tongue movements during speech production. It builds on previous research on asymmetry in various aspects of human biology and behavior, focusing on the tongue's asymmetric behavior during speech. The findings reveal that speakers have a pronounced preference toward one side of the tongue during lateral releases with a majority displaying the left-side bias. This lateral bias in tongue speech movements is referred to as tonguedness. This research contributes to our understanding of the articulatory mechanisms involved in tongue movements and underscores the importance of considering lateral biases in speech production research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yadong Liu
- Department of Linguistics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Jahurul Islam
- Department of Linguistics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Kate Radford
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA
| | - Oksana Tkachman
- Department of Linguistics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Bryan Gick
- Department of Linguistics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, , , , ,
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Sanmartin-Senent A, Pena-Perez N, Burdet E, Eden J. Redundancy Resolution in Trimanual vs. Bimanual Tracking Tasks. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2023; 2023:1-5. [PMID: 38083745 DOI: 10.1109/embc40787.2023.10340722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Supernumerary limbs promise to allow users to perform complex tasks that would otherwise require the actions of teams. However, how the user's capability for multimanual coordination compares to bimanual coordination, and how the motor system decides to configure its limb contributions given task redundancy is unclear. We conducted bimanual and trimanual (with the foot as a third-hand controller) virtual reality visuomotor tracking experiments to study how 32 healthy participants changed their limb coordination in response to uninstructed cursor mapping changes. This used a shared cursor mapped to the average limbs' position for different limb combinations. The results show that most participants correctly identified the different mappings during bimanual tracking, and accordingly minimized task-irrelevant motion. Instead during trimanual coordination, participants consistently moved all three limbs concurrently, showing weaker ipsilateral hand-foot coordination. These findings show how redundancy resolution and the resulting coordination patterns differ between similar bimanual and trimanual tasks. Further research is needed to consider the effect of learning on coordination behaviour.
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Monfredini CFP, Coelho DB, Marcori AJ, Teixeira LA. Control of interjoint coordination in the performance of manual circular movements can explain lateral specialization. Hum Mov Sci 2023; 90:103102. [PMID: 37236120 DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2023.103102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Between-arm performance asymmetry can be seen in different arm movements requiring specific interjoint coordination to generate the desired hand trajectory. In the current investigation, we assessed between-arm asymmetry of shoulder-elbow coordination and its stability in the performance of circular movements. Participants were 16 healthy right-handed university students. The task consisted of performing cyclic circular movements with either the dominant right arm or the nondominant left arm at movement frequencies ranging from 40% of maximum to maximum frequency in steps of 15%. Kinematic analysis of shoulder and elbow motions was performed through an optoelectronic system in the three-dimensional space. Results showed that as movement frequency increased circularity of left arm movements diminished, taking an elliptical shape, becoming significantly different from the right arm at higher movement frequencies. Shoulder-elbow coordination was found to be asymmetric between the two arms across movement frequencies, with lower shoulder-elbow angle coefficients and higher relative phase for the left compared to the right arm. Results also revealed greater variability of left arm movements in all variables assessed, an outcome observed from low to high movement frequencies. From these findings, we propose that specialization of the left cerebral hemisphere for motor control resides in its higher capacity to generate appropriate and stable interjoint coordination leading to the planned hand trajectory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel Boari Coelho
- University of São Paulo, Human Motor Systems Laboratory, São Paulo, Brazil; Biomedical Engineering, Federal University of ABC, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Peña-Pérez N, Eden J, Ivanova E, Farkhatdinov I, Burdet E. How virtual and mechanical coupling impact bimanual tracking. J Neurophysiol 2023; 129:102-114. [PMID: 36475891 PMCID: PMC9844510 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00057.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bilateral training systems look to promote the paretic hand's use in individuals with hemiplegia. Although this is normally achieved using mechanical coupling (i.e., a physical connection between the hands), a virtual reality system relying on virtual coupling (i.e., through a shared virtual object) would be simpler to use and prevent slacking. However, it is not clear whether different coupling modes differently impact task performance and effort distribution between the hands. We explored how 18 healthy right-handed participants changed their motor behaviors in response to the uninstructed addition of mechanical coupling, and virtual coupling using a shared cursor mapped to the average hands' position. In a second experiment, we then studied the impact of connection stiffness on performance, perception, and effort imbalance. The results indicated that both coupling types can induce the hands to actively contribute to the task. However, the task asymmetry introduced by using a cursor mapped to either the left or right hand only modulated the hands' contribution when not mechanically coupled. The tracking performance was similar for all coupling types, independent of the connection stiffness, although the mechanical coupling was preferred and induced the hands to move with greater correlation. These findings suggest that virtual coupling can induce the hands to actively contribute to a task in healthy participants without hindering their performance. Further investigation on the coupling types' impact on the performance and hands' effort distribution in patients with hemiplegia could allow for the design of simpler training systems that promote the affected hand's use.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We showed that the uninstructed addition of a virtual and/or a mechanical coupling can induce both hands to actively contribute in a continuous redundant bimanual tracking task without impacting performance. In addition, we showed that the task asymmetry can only alter the effort distribution when the hands are not connected, independent of the connection stiffness. Our findings suggest that virtual coupling could be used in the development of simpler VR-based training devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Peña-Pérez
- 1School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom,4Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Eden
- 2Mechanical Engineering Department, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia,4Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ekaterina Ivanova
- 4Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ildar Farkhatdinov
- 3School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom,4Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Etienne Burdet
- 4Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Liu Y, Gunter C, Leib R, Franklin DW. Bimanual Manipulation of a Complex Object with Internal Dynamics. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2022; 2022:4119-4122. [PMID: 36085826 DOI: 10.1109/embc48229.2022.9871098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Object manipulation often requires coordination between hands and adaption to the dynamic characteristics of the object. When manipulating the same object, the two hands can have either symmetric or asymmetric impact on the object's trajectory. In this work, we used a bimanual manipulation task of a complex object with internal dynamics to examine how symmetric or scaled-down control of one of the hands affects the coordination between hands. Our result shows that participants are able to quickly adapt to different conditions but the coordination between the two hands changes very little.
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Perez NP, Eden J, Burdet E, Farkhatdinov I, Takagi A. Lateralization of Impedance Control in Dynamic Versus Static Bimanual Tasks. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2022; 2022:785-789. [PMID: 36086395 DOI: 10.1109/embc48229.2022.9871013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In activities of daily living that require bimanual coordination, humans often assign a role to each hand. How do task requirements affect this role assignment? To address this question, we investigated how healthy right-handed participants bimanually manipulated a static or dynamic virtual object using wrist flexion/extension while receiving haptic feedback through the interacting object's torque. On selected trials, the object shook strongly to destabilize the bimanual grip. Our results show that participants reacted to the shaking by increasing their wrist co-contraction. Unlike in previous work, handedness was not the determining factor in choosing which wrist to co-contract to stabilize the object. However, each participant preferred to co-contract one hand over the other, a choice that was consistent for both the static and dynamic objects. While role allocation did not seem to be affected by task requirements, it may have resulted in different motor behaviours as indicated by the changes in the object torque. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the factors that determine the preference in stabilizing with either the dominant or non-dominant hand.
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Poirier G, Papaxanthis C, Mourey F, Lebigre M, Gaveau J. Muscle effort is best minimized by the right-dominant arm in the gravity field. J Neurophysiol 2022; 127:1117-1126. [PMID: 35353617 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00324.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) develops motor strategies that minimize various hidden criteria, such as end-point variance or effort. A large body of literature suggests that the dominant arm is specialized for such open-loop optimization-like processes, whilst the non-dominant arm is specialized for closed-loop postural control. Building on recent results suggesting that the brain plans arm movements that take advantage of gravity effects to minimize muscle effort, the present study tests the hypothesized superiority of the dominant arm motor system for effort minimization. Thirty participants (22.5 ± 2.1 years old; all right-handed) performed vertical arm movements between two targets (40° amplitude), in two directions (upwards and downwards) with their two arms (dominant and non-dominant). We recorded the arm kinematics and electromyographic activities of the anterior and posterior deltoid to compare two motor signatures of the gravity-related optimization process; i.e., directional asymmetries and negative epochs on phasic muscular activity. We found that these motor signatures were still present during movements performed with the non-dominant arm, indicating that the effort-minimization process also occurs for the non-dominant motor system. However, these markers were reduced compared with movements performed with the dominant arm. This difference was especially prominent during downward movements, where the optimization of gravity effects occurs early in the movement. Assuming that the dominant arm is optimal to minimize muscle effort, as demonstrated by previous studies, the present results support the hypothesized superiority of the dominant arm motor system for effort-minimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Poirier
- INSERM U1093-CAPS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UFR des Sciences du Sport, Dijon, France
| | - Charalambos Papaxanthis
- INSERM U1093-CAPS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UFR des Sciences du Sport, Dijon, France
| | - France Mourey
- INSERM U1093-CAPS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UFR des Sciences du Sport, Dijon, France
| | - Melanie Lebigre
- INSERM U1093-CAPS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UFR des Sciences du Sport, Dijon, France
| | - Jérémie Gaveau
- INSERM U1093-CAPS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UFR des Sciences du Sport, Dijon, France
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Perez NPN, Eden J, Ivanova E, Burdet E, Farkhatdinov I. Is a Robot Needed to Modify Human Effort in Bimanual Tracking? IEEE Robot Autom Lett 2022. [DOI: 10.1109/lra.2022.3183753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Pe na Perez
- School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Jonathan Eden
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ekaterina Ivanova
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK
| | - Etienne Burdet
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ildar Farkhatdinov
- School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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Wadsley CG, Cirillo J, Nieuwenhuys A, Byblow WD. Decoupling countermands nonselective response inhibition during selective stopping. J Neurophysiol 2021; 127:188-203. [PMID: 34936517 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00495.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Response inhibition is essential for goal-directed behavior within dynamic environments. Selective stopping is a complex form of response inhibition where only part of a multi-effector response must be cancelled. A substantial response delay emerges on unstopped effectors when a cued effector is successfully stopped. This stopping-interference effect is indicative of nonselective response inhibition during selective stopping which may, in-part, be a consequence of functional coupling. The present study examined selective stopping of (de)coupled bimanual responses in healthy human participants of either sex. Participants performed synchronous and asynchronous versions of an anticipatory stop-signal paradigm across two sessions while mu (µ) and beta (β) rhythm were measured with electroencephalography. Results showed that responses were behaviorally decoupled during asynchronous go trials and the extent of response asynchrony was associated with lateralized sensorimotor µ and β desynchronization during response preparation. Selective stopping produced a stopping-interference effect and was marked by a nonselective increase and subsequent rebound in prefrontal and sensorimotor β. In support of the coupling account, stopping-interference was smaller during selective stopping of asynchronous responses, and negatively associated with the magnitude of decoupling. However, the increase in sensorimotor β during selective stopping was equivalent between the stopped and unstopped hand irrespective of response synchrony. Overall, the findings demonstrate that decoupling facilitates selective stopping after a global pause process and emphasizes the importance of considering the influence of both the go and stop context when investigating response inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey George Wadsley
- Movement Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Exercise Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - John Cirillo
- Movement Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Exercise Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Arne Nieuwenhuys
- Movement Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Exercise Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Winston D Byblow
- Movement Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Exercise Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Cardoso LRL, Pedro LM, Forner-Cordero A. Handlebar Robotic System for Bimanual Motor Control and Learning Research. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 21:5991. [PMID: 34577199 PMCID: PMC8472032 DOI: 10.3390/s21185991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Robotic devices can be used for motor control and learning research. In this work, we present the construction, modeling and experimental validation of a bimanual robotic device. We tested some hypotheses that may help to better understand the motor learning processes involved in the interlimb coordination function. The system emulates a bicycle handlebar with rotational motion, thus requiring bilateral upper limb control and a coordinated sequence of joint sub-movements. The robotic handlebar is compact and portable and can register in a fast rate both position and forces independently from arms, including prehension forces. An impedance control system was implemented in order to promote a safer environment for human interaction and the system is able to generate force fields, suitable for implementing motor learning paradigms. The novelty of the system is the decoupling of prehension and manipulation forces of each hand, thus paving the way for the investigation of hand dominance function in a bimanual task. Experiments were conducted with ten healthy subjects, kinematic and dynamic variables were measured during a rotational set of movements. Statistical analyses showed that movement velocity decreased with practice along with an increase in reaction time. This suggests an increase of the task planning time. Prehension force decreased with practice. However, an unexpected result was that the dominant hand did not lead the bimanual task, but helped to correct the movement, suggesting different roles for each hand during a cooperative bimanual task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas R. L. Cardoso
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Interunidades em Bioengenharia (EESC/FMRP/IQSC), University of São Paulo, São Carlos 13566-590, Brazil
| | - Leonardo M. Pedro
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil;
| | - Arturo Forner-Cordero
- Biomechatronics Laboratory—Escola Politecnica, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-010, Brazil;
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Dexheimer B, Sainburg R. When the non-dominant arm dominates: the effects of visual information and task experience on speed-accuracy advantages. Exp Brain Res 2021; 239:655-665. [PMID: 33388816 PMCID: PMC8063124 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-020-06011-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Speed accuracy trade-off, the inverse relationship between movement speed and task accuracy, is a ubiquitous feature of skilled motor performance. Many previous studies have focused on the dominant arm, unimanual performance in both simple tasks, such as target reaching, and complex tasks, such as overarm throwing. However, while handedness is a prominent feature of human motor performance, the effect of limb dominance on speed-accuracy relationships is not well-understood. Based on previous research, we hypothesize that dominant arm skilled performance should depend on visual information and prior task experience, and that the non-dominant arm should show greater skill when no visual information nor prior task information is available. Forty right-handed young adults reached to 32 randomly presented targets across a virtual reality workspace with either the left or the right arm. Half of the participants received no visual feedback about hand position throughout each reach. Sensory information and task experience were lowest during the first cycle of exposure (32 reaches) in the no-vision condition, in which visual information about motion was not available. Under this condition, we found that the left arm group showed greater skill, measured in terms of position error normalized to speed, and by error variability. However, as task experience and sensory information increased, the right arm group showed substantial improvements in speed-accuracy relations, while the left arm group maintained, but did not improve, speed-accuracy relations throughout the task. These differences in performance between dominant and non-dominant arm groups during the separate stages of the task are consistent with complimentary models of lateralization, which propose different proficiencies of each hemisphere for different features of control. Our results are incompatible with global dominance models of handedness that propose dominant arm advantages under all performance conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke Dexheimer
- Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Development, The Pennsylvania State University, 27 Rec Hall, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Robert Sainburg
- Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Development, The Pennsylvania State University, 27 Rec Hall, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Department of Neurology, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
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