Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Force and timing variability in rhythmic unimanual tapping.

D Sternad1, W J Dean, K M Newell

  • 1Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, USA. dxs48@psu.edu

Journal of Motor Behavior
|September 7, 2000
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Task experience influences coordinative structures and performance variables in learning a slalom ski-simulator task.

Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports·2018
Same author

Validity and reliability of Kinect skeleton for measuring shoulder joint angles: a feasibility study.

Physiotherapy·2015
Same author

The pattern of coupling dynamics between postural motion, isotonic hand movements and physiological tremor.

Neuroscience letters·2014
Same author

Motor learning without knowledge of results through the development of a response recognition mechanism.

Journal of motor behavior·2013
Same author

Variability of practice and transfer of training.

Journal of motor behavior·2013
Same author

More on absolute error, etc.

Journal of motor behavior·2013
Same journal

Preferential Cup Size and End-State Comfort in Children.

Journal of motor behavior·2026
Same journal

Expertise Modulates Anticipatory Synergy Adjustments in a Rapid Motor Skill Under Temporal Constraints.

Journal of motor behavior·2026
Same journal

A Boundary of Ideomotor Control: Semantic Labels Bias Selection but Do Not Tune Motor Execution.

Journal of motor behavior·2026
Same journal

Strategies When Choosing Between Movement Options in a Sequential Task.

Journal of motor behavior·2026
Same journal

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined with Neurofunctional Motor Training in Autistic Children: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

Journal of motor behavior·2026
Same journal

Individualized Virtual Angle Offset Training for Patients with Stroke.

Journal of motor behavior·2026
See all related articles

This study investigated how timing and force production interact during rhythmic tapping. Results indicate that while largely independent, force and timing variability are interconnected, with faster rates and higher forces influencing consistency.

Area of Science:

  • Motor control
  • Human movement science
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • Rhythmic tapping tasks are crucial for understanding motor control.
  • The interplay between timing and force production in motor tasks remains an area of active research.
  • Oscillator-based models are frequently used to explain rhythmic movements.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interdependencies between timing and force production in unimanual rhythmic tapping.
  • To examine how target period and peak force influence variability in tapping tasks.
  • To assess the impact of paced versus self-paced conditions on motor output.

Main Methods:

  • Three experiments were conducted with participants performing unimanual rhythmic tapping.
  • Tasks involved coordinating tapping to target periods (333 ms, 500 ms, 1000 ms) with constant peak force production.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Participants also tapped at preferred frequencies to produce target forces (5 N, 10 N, 15 N) and combinations thereof.

    • Main Results:

    • Force and period magnitudes were largely independent.
    • Timing variability increased with tapping period; force variability increased with peak force.
    • Force variability decreased at faster tapping rates, while timing variability decreased with higher force levels.
    • Tap-to-tap analysis revealed rate adjustments and accelerations in unpaced conditions.

    Conclusions:

    • The findings highlight complex interdependencies between force and timing in rhythmic movements.
    • These interdependencies present challenges for current oscillator-based models of motor control.
    • Further research is needed to refine models accounting for both timing and force dynamics.