Handedness consistency influences bimanual coordination: a behavioural and electrophysiological investigation

Previous research has shown that handedness consistency might be a more important factor than direction of hand dominance in the performance of various cognitive and motor tasks. We investigated the effect of handedness consistency in bimanual coordination. We employed a task where participants had to respond to visual cues and perform symmetrical or asymmetrical bimanual movements towards cue-designated targets. Response and movement times were recorded in parallel with electroencephalography (EEG). Behavioural analyses showed that participants with inconsistent hand preference were equally fast in initiating symmetrical and asymmetrical bimanual movements, whereas participants with consistent hand preference were slower in initiating (the more demanding) asymmetrical movements. Moreover, the amplitudes of the Movement Related Potential and the suppression of the 10 Hz-mu rhythm were larger in participants with inconsistent hand preference over premotor and primary sensorimotor areas, although it is possible that the suppression of the mu rhythm may also depend on hand dominance. Our findings suggest that individuals with inconsistent hand preference have an advantage in the planning and organization of bimanual movements, which may not be related to the direction of their hand dominance.