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Hand preference for unimanual and bimanual tasks: Evidence from questionnaires and preferential reaching
Danielle Salters1, Sara M Scharoun Benson1
1Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada.
Laterality
|October 18, 2021
Summary
This study compared unimanual and bimanual tasks, finding that hand selection depends on object location and comfort. Questionnaire data partially predict hand preference for grasping, but comprehensive assessments are recommended.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human Motor Control
Background:
- Hand preference, or handedness, is a fundamental aspect of human motor control.
- Understanding the factors influencing hand selection in unimanual and bimanual tasks is crucial for motor control research.
- Existing research often relies on self-report questionnaires, but their predictive validity for complex tasks needs further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare hand selection strategies in unimanual (cup pickup) and bimanual (cup pickup and pitcher pour) tasks.
- To investigate the relationship between questionnaire-based hand preference (unimanual and bimanual) and observed hand selection patterns.
- To determine the influence of object proximity and biomechanical constraints on hand selection during reaching and grasping.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed unimanual and bimanual reaching and grasping tasks in a preferential reaching paradigm.
- Hand selection for stabilizing and mobilizing objects was recorded.
- Self-report and questionnaire-based measures of unimanual and bimanual hand preference were collected.
- Statistical analyses examined the relationship between questionnaire data and observed hand use.
Main Results:
- Hand selection in bimanual tasks showed a division of labor at the midline, with object proximity and biomechanical comfort influencing choices otherwise.
- Specific hand roles (stabilizing vs. mobilizing) were observed based on object location (left vs. right space).
- A significant relationship was found between unimanual hand preference measures and observed hand selection, but not for bimanual measures.
Conclusions:
- Hand selection during reaching and grasping is influenced by a combination of object location, task demands, and biomechanical factors.
- While questionnaire data offer some insight into unimanual hand preference, they are less predictive for bimanual tasks.
- A comprehensive assessment battery is recommended for accurately evaluating and predicting handedness in complex motor tasks.
