Influencing Bimanual Coordination By Changing Environmental Circumstances

Abstract

By Rediet Negatu, Neuropsychology; Benjamin Blackwood; Niel Swain; Lily Bokavitz, Jack Greenle

Advisor: John Holden

Presentation ID: 323

Abstract: Bimanual Coordination is the coordination observed between the movements of the left and right hand. It is important in carrying out day-to-day activities and is influenced by a variety of environmental factors. Many studies have used human cognition tasks to study coordination but there is a lack of focus on when environmental factors come into play. In this quantitative study, the goal is to investigate the consequences and influence of uncertain environmental circumstances on coordination. This was achieved by asking participants to produce random patterns to see if we could manipulate the degree in which participants relied on one attractor or the other when creating any pattern. It was predicted that bimanual coordination attractors would interfere with individuals' ability to produce random sequences. Coordination resembling bipedal locomotion is preferred when confronting these uncertain environmental circumstances.