Two coupled oscillators as a model for the coordinated finger tapping by both hands

Abstract

Recently, it was found that rhythmic movements (e.g. locomotion, swimmeret beating) are controlled by mutually coupled endogeneous neural oscillators (Kennedy and Davis, 1977; Pearson and Iles, 1973; Stein, 1974; Shik and Orlovsky, 1976; Grillner and Zangger, 1979). Meanwhile, it has been found out that the phase resetting experiment is useful to investigate the interaction of neural oscillators (Perkel et al., 1963; Stein, 1974). In the preceding paper (Yamanishi et al., 1979), we studied the functional interaction between the neural oscillatory which is assumed to control finger tapping and the neural networks which control some tasks. The tasks were imposed on the subject as the perturbation of the phase resetting experiment. In this paper, we investigate the control mechanism of the coordinated finger tapping by both hands. First, the subjects were instructed to coordinate the finger tapping by both hands so as to keep the phase difference between two hands constant. The performance was evaluated by a systematic error and a standard deviation of phase differences. Second, we propose two coupled neural oscillators as a model for the coordinated finger tapping. Dynamical behavior of the model system is analyzed by using phase transition curves which were measured on one hand finger tapping in the preivous experiment (Yamanishi et al., 1979). Prediction by the model is in good agreement with the results of the experiments. Therefore, it is suggested that the neural mechanism which controls the coordinated finger tapping may be composed of a coupled system of two neural oscillators each of which controls the right and the left finger tapping respectively.

Limb versus Speech Motor Control: A Conceptual Review

“…These two patterns of coordination are generically found in rhythmic limb movement (Kelso, 1984). Without practice, other, intermediate phase relationships are more variable and biased toward these two basic patterns (Yamanishi et al, 1980). That the stability of patterns of relative timing is not only a sufficient, but also a necessary condition for coordination is underlined by the observation that a loss of coordination is accompanied by a loss of stability (Schöner & Kelso, 1988a).…”

The coupled oscillator model of between-hand coordination in alternate-hand tapping: A reappraisal.

“…These subdivisions create a salient short-long or long-short timing pattern. This analysis leads us to consider the possibility that in performing the Yamanishi et al (1980) task, the participants controlled the coordination between the hands by complying with the timing constraints inherent to the production of groups of rhythmic taps. We refer to this hypothesis as the timing control hypothesis.…”

“…From this perspective, we want to show that the phasing between the hands may depend, at least in part, on the participant's capacity to generate the required timing patterns. To this end, we first analyze the timing requirements of the bimanual finger-tapping task used by Yamanishi et al (1980). Our analysis of the Yamanishi et al task leads us to the expectation that the main results observed in the bimanual condition should be reproducible in a single-hand tapping task involving similar timing requirements.…”

“…Our focus on the Yamanishi et al (1980) study is motivated by historical and methodological concerns. Historically, the study represents one of the first attempts to introduce the coupled oscillator model into the field of hand coordination.…”

“…Almost all subsequent studies conducted in the coupled oscillator framework have used tasks that involve continuous free oscillations of the limbs. Yamanishi et al (1980) had participants tap in synchrony with two visual pacing signals, one for the left hand and the other for the right hand. For each visual metronome, the period of the interstimulus interval (ISI) was fixed at 1,000 ms.…”