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Flexible, task-dependent bimanual coordination of movement direction and extent
Preethi Ravikumar1, Pratik K Mutha1,2
1Department of Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar, India.
Journal of Neurophysiology
|May 24, 2026
Summary
Bimanual arm movement control is flexible, adapting independently to changes in movement direction and extent. The brain prioritizes task-relevant goals, adjusting coordination based on specific demands.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Human Movement Science
Background:
- Bimanual coordination may involve flexible, task-dependent policies, not just coupled muscle commands.
- Previous research indicated task-dependent modulation of lateral arm movement variability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if bimanual control flexibility extends independently to movement direction and extent.
- To determine how the sensorimotor system adjusts coordination based on task demands.
Main Methods:
- A bimanual reach task was used with modified contributions of each arm to cursor direction (perpendicular axis) and extent (parallel axis).
- Variability in arm movements was analyzed under different gain manipulations along both axes.
Main Results:
- Reduced lateral variability in the arm with higher perpendicular contribution, with increased variability in the other arm.
- Similar asymmetric adjustments in variability were observed for movement extent (parallel axis).
- Independent adjustments for direction and extent were possible, with the sensorimotor system prioritizing task-relevant dimensions.
Conclusions:
- The sensorimotor system prioritizes corrections for task-critical deviations, tolerating variability in less relevant dimensions.
- Bimanual coordination of movement direction and extent can be modulated largely independently based on task demands.
- Findings support flexible, task-dependent modulation of bimanual motor coordination.
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