Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Muscles of the Forearm that Move the Hand and Fingers

Muscles of the Forearm that Move the Hand and Fingers

The muscles of the forearm that move the wrist, hand, and digits are numerous and diverse. They can be classified into two groups based on their location and function — the anterior and posterior compartment muscles.
Anterior Compartment
The anterior compartment muscles originate from the humerus. They primarily function as flexors and are also known as flexor muscles. They typically insert on the carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges. The superficial layer includes the flexor carpi radialis,...

Moment of a Force: Problem Solving

Moment of a Force: Problem Solving

Understanding the scalar formulation of the moment of a force and applying it correctly through problem-solving is crucial in designing and analyzing mechanical systems. Here are the steps for problem-solving with the moment of a force:

Static and Kinetic Frictional Force

Static and Kinetic Frictional Force

One of the simpler characteristics of sliding friction is that it is parallel to the contact surfaces between systems, and is always in a direction that opposes the motion or attempted motion of the systems relative to each other. If two systems are in contact and moving relative to one another, then the friction between them is called kinetic friction. For example, kinetic friction slows a hockey puck sliding on ice.
However, if two systems are in contact and are stationary relative to one...

Three-Dimensional Force System

Three-Dimensional Force System

In mechanical engineering, a three-dimensional force system is a system of forces acting in three dimensions, with forces applied along the x, y, and z coordinate axes. The three-dimensional force system is an important concept in mechanical engineering, as it allows engineers to understand and analyze the behavior of objects and structures in three dimensions. By understanding the forces acting on a system, engineers can design more efficient and effective mechanical systems that can withstand...

Work and Energy for Variable Forces

Work and Energy for Variable Forces

When an object is acted upon by a variable force, the amount of work done and the change in energy of the object can be more complex to calculate compared to when a constant force is applied. Work is the product of force and displacement, while energy is the capacity of a system to do work. When a constant force is applied to an object, the work done can be calculated as the product of the force and the distance moved in the direction of the force. However, when a variable force is applied, the...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Whole-body pointing as superposition of two multi-joint components.

Experimental brain research·2026

Same author

Functional changes in spinal circuitry in essential tremor revealed with analysis of intramuscle synergies.

Journal of neurophysiology·2026

Same author

Stability of performance in a hierarchical system during isometric force production and effects of visual feedback.

Experimental brain research·2025

Same author

The neural control of accurate hand force production.

Neuroscience·2025

Same author

Applied Aspects of Contemporary Motor Control Theories: A Natural Science Perspective.

Motor control·2025

Same author

On the origin of variance along the uncontrolled manifold: Its effects on anticipatory and spontaneous changes in performance-stabilizing synergies in force production tasks.

Neuroscience·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Measurement of Spatial Stability in Precision Grip

Measurement of Spatial Stability in Precision Grip

Published on: June 4, 2020

Do synergies decrease force variability? A study of single-finger and multi-finger force production.

Elena Yu Shapkova¹, Alexandra L Shapkova, Simon R Goodman

¹Department of Kinesiology, Rec. Hall-268N, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.

Experimental Brain Research

|April 22, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Multi-finger force tasks show slightly lower overall variability than single-finger tasks. However, individual finger force variability increases when fingers act in groups, suggesting complex motor control mechanisms.

More Related Videos

Capturing Dynamic Finger Gesturing with High-resolution Surface Electromyography and Computer Vision

Capturing Dynamic Finger Gesturing with High-resolution Surface Electromyography and Computer Vision

Published on: March 28, 2025

Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention

Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention

Published on: September 11, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Measurement of Spatial Stability in Precision Grip

Measurement of Spatial Stability in Precision Grip

Published on: June 4, 2020

Capturing Dynamic Finger Gesturing with High-resolution Surface Electromyography and Computer Vision

Capturing Dynamic Finger Gesturing with High-resolution Surface Electromyography and Computer Vision

Published on: March 28, 2025

Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention

Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention

Published on: September 11, 2017

Area of Science:

Motor Control
Human Physiology
Biomechanics

Background:

Understanding force production variability is crucial for motor control research.
Previous studies have explored single-finger force variability, but multi-finger coordination remains less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether multi-finger force production exhibits lower force variability compared to single-finger tasks.
To analyze the relationship between force magnitude and force variability across different task conditions.

Main Methods:

Three experiments were conducted: quick force production, steady-state force production with visual feedback, and steady-state force production without visual feedback.
Participants produced forces at various levels (as percentages of maximal voluntary contraction) using single or multiple fingers.
Force variability was quantified using force standard deviation.

Main Results:

Force standard deviation increased linearly with force magnitude across all conditions.
Multi-finger tasks showed only modest differences in force variability compared to single-finger tasks, with significance found only under visual feedback.
Individual finger force variability was higher in multi-finger tasks than in single-finger tasks or for the group as a whole.
Uninstructed fingers exhibited higher force variability than instructed fingers.

Conclusions:

Multi-finger force control may involve a feed-forward scheme with task-related and non-task-related components.
Total force variability appears to be governed by principles similar to the Weber-Fechner law at higher control levels, rather than solely by neural noise at the segmental level.