Understanding bimanual coordination across small time scales from an electrophysiological perspective

Abstract

Bimanual movement involves a variety of coordinated functions, ranging from elementary patterns that are performed automatically to complex patterns that require practice to be performed skillfully. The neural dynamics accompanying these coordination patterns are complex and rapid. By means of electro- and magneto-encephalographic approaches, it has been possible to examine these dynamics during bimanual coordination with excellent temporal resolution, which complements other neuroimaging modalities with superb spatial resolution. This review focuses on EEG/MEG studies that unravel the processes involved in movement planning and execution, motor learning, and executive functions involved in task switching and dual tasking. Evidence is presented for a spatio-temporal reorganization of the neural networks within and between hemispheres to meet increased task difficulty demands, induced or spontaneous switches in coordination mode, or training-induced neuroplastic modulation in coordination dynamics. Future theoretical developments will benefit from the integration of research techniques unraveling neural activity at different time scales. Ultimately this work will contribute to a better understanding of how the human brain orchestrates complex behavior via the implementation of inter- and intra-hemispheric coordination networks.

Shared and differentiated motor skill impairments in children with dyslexia and/or attention deficit disorder: From simple to complex sequential coordination

“…This disinhibition is in line with Barkley’s hypothesis suggesting fragile inhibition control in AD populations. The added difficulty with asynchronized bimanual coordination is also in line with theories associating atypical frontal-based mechanisms with bimanual coordination [47, 48, 54, 55, 79, 93, 94]. Interestingly, a preliminary PET study on adults using the Leonard Tapping Task suggests that out-of-phase bimanual movements rely on the prefrontal cortex and the cingulate cortex, more so than for any other condition on the task [95].…”

“…Given that these difficulties exist in the unimanual sequential conditions it is not surprising that both in-phase and out-of-phase bimanual coordinated movements are also impaired. Bimanual coordination is considered a «higher order » task because of the added complexity of coordinating both hands [55]. Hence, our findings shed light on shared atypical motor development in all three groups when a task requires gross sequential movements.…”

“…We therefore suggest that kinematics and sensorimotor integration are not functionally impaired in these neurodevelopmental disorders. Kinematics include velocity, force, and movement frequencies, and constitute basic components of motor outputs that rely on sensorimotor networks, for instance the primary motor cortex and the supplementary motor areas [55, 80–82]. …”

“…In this regard, widely distributed neural networks are necessary for accurate cognitive-motor output. For example, the cerebellum has been associated with procedural motor abilities as well as with working memory and executive functions [86–88]; and the cingulate cortex and parasagittal frontal regions have been associated with complex motor coordination as well as inhibition and attention [54, 55, 85]. Interestingly, many of these cognitive-motor neural networks have been shown to be functionally depressed in both disorders, namely the prefrontal cortex in AD and the cerebellum in dyslexic populations [18, 50].…”

“…Frontal lobe dysfunction in AD is associated with smaller brain volumes in this region and altered activity in the anterior cingulate, dorsolateral, and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, as well as in associated striatal, parietal and cerebellar regions; these later findings may suggest abnormal functioning of fronto-striatal and fronto-parietal neural circuitry [51–53]. Interestingly, the frontal lobe has been associated to «higher order» motor skills, namely bimanual coordination [54, 55]. …”