Bimanual information processing and the impact of conflict during mirror drawing

Abstract

Successful motor behavior depends on optimal information processing and planning. In the present study, the neural response of the motor system to conflict of visuomotor discrepancy (mirror-reversed vision) and complexity (task difficulty and hand laterality) was evaluated during the performance of bimanual actions. EEG coherence, expressing interregional communication, showed that conflict of visuomotor incongruence resulted in activation changes in both hemispheres, whereas conflict of task complexity evoked adjustments primarily in the left hemisphere. Furthermore, interhemispheric coherence was modified due to both forms of conflict. This demonstrates that conflict demands elicit distinct processes across the motor system. The data further illustrate that functional couplings are dynamically modulated during bimanual behaviour, suggesting that interactions between brain regions provide higher-order links for information processing and integration in view of complex motor skills.

Understanding bimanual coordination across small time scales from an electrophysiological perspective

“…However, experimental findings have reported non-significant contributions of spectral modulations to changes in coherence, which suggests that this connectivity measure reflects synchronization at a large scale (Ford et al, 1986;Gross et al, 2005;Serrien, 2008Serrien, , 2009a. Furthermore, there is no intrinsic relationship between global synchronization and ERD/S, as opposite responses due to a stimulus are possible at a large scale, although these synchronization measures cannot be distinguished on a small scale (up to one centimeter) (Fell and Axmacher, 2011).…”

“…In and anti-phase -× × -Dominant hemisphere controlled communication with non-dominant in bimanual and unilateral right movements Increased coherence during anti-phase compared to in-phase movements Deterioration of performance with load accompanied by decrease of inter-hemispheric coherence in beta Serrien (2008) 10 EEG Finger tapping In and anti-phase -× × -Increased intra-hemispheric coherence in beta in left hemisphere for unilateral right and bimanual movements Higher intra-and inter-hemispheric and midline coherence in beta band in anti-phase coordination mode Lowest inter-hemispheric coherence in beta band in in-phase compared to anti-phase and unilateral movements Serrien (2009a) 9 EEG Drawing Other --× -Intra-hemispheric coherence in beta band was increased as a function of task complexity in dominant hemisphere Inter and intra-hemispheric coherence in beta band was increased in complex tasks in non-dominant hemisphere illustrate bimanual modes to be of a 'higher order' than coding of unimanual or loading information. Moreover, larger amplitudes over the central region, especially over the midline might be misleading.…”

“…Some authors have taken task manipulations a step further by challenging visuomotor congruence. A study of Serrien (2009a) involved coordination of spatial features by simultaneously drawing different shapes with each hand and using a mirror to reverse visual cues with respect to the limb. As described above for difficult compared to simple tasks (bi-vs. unimanual, or anti-vs. in-phase), intra-and inter-hemispheric coherence values were higher for more complex task (reverse visual cues) than for easy task conditions (normal visual cues).…”

The Effect of Different Movement Exercises on Cognitive and Motor Abilities

“…In fact, due to missing evidences this idea is hardly challenged. Indeed, bimanual movement coordination is associated with interhemispheric communication (Andres, Mima, Schulman, Dichgans, Hallett, & Gerloff, 1999;Serrien, 2009;Serrien & Brown, 2002). However, it is disputable, if moving extremities across the body midline does evoke different effects than moving in the respective hemispace of the body.…”

Effects of task complexity and sensory conflict on goal-directed movement

“…Relevant in the present context is to distinguish copying from tracing during which the template and trajectory overlap, enabling continuous 8 visual guidance of the hand in local space [2]. Accordingly, it is argued that the defined demands of the drawing activity will affect the weighting of the sensory signals as well as the adopted strategies (i.e., shifts between model and trajectory), especially in the case of visuomotor incongruence during which the reference frames between the eyes and hand are misaligned [27].…”