Dissociating the structural and metrical specifications of bimanual movement

Synchronization strength was investigated during the bimanual performance of movements with fundamentally different spatiotemporal features. A flexion (unidirectional) movement was made by the nondominant limb together with a flexion-extension-flexion (reversal) movement by the dominant limb. In contrast with previous studies on bimanual coordination, the movements differed from each other with respect to qualitative (structural) as well as quantitative (metrical) characteristics. Accordingly, the main task goal was to dissociate the limbs' actions at both these levels. Findings of Experiment 1 (within-subject) and Experiment 2 (between-subject) revealed a mutual synchronization effect that was evident at various levels of movement description and that was essentially asymmetric in nature: The unidirectional movement was more attracted to the reversal movement than vice versa. The intrusive nature of synchronization prevented full metrical and structural dissociation of the upper-limbs' actions, although individual differences were apparent and reflected fundamentally different coordination modes.