The effects of rate and sequence complexity on repetitive finger movements

We studied the effects of movement rate and sequence complexity on the execution of externally paced finger movements. Simple thumb-index opposition movements (SEQ1), oppositions of thumb to index, medium, ring and little fingers (SEQ2), and oppositions of thumb to index, ring, medium and little fingers (SEQ3) were paced by a metronome at rates that ranged from 0.5 to 5 Hz. At rates higher than 2.5 Hz touch duration, as well as spatial and timing accuracy changed, although with a different pattern, for the sequences. Delayed movements were mostly present at lowest rates in SEQ1; at 0.5 Hz and at frequencies higher than 3.5 Hz in SEQ2; at rates higher than 3.5 Hz in SEQ3. Syncopation occurred at rates higher than 3 Hz but only for SEQ2 and SEQ3 when movements are delayed. Power spectrum analysis of timing error series indicated that SEQ1 performance is influenced by memory-related processes at all movement rates. On the other hand, for the other two sequences, at rates higher than 4 Hz the timing error series exhibit a slight but significant reduction of its long-range correlation characteristics. These findings suggest that different strategies are used for sensorimotor processing when the movement rate and sequence complexity are increased.