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Neurophysiological mechanisms of optimized graphomotor performance in biscriptuals.
Yitong Zuo1, Gaëlle Alhaddad1, Víctor J López-Madrona2
1Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, CRPN, Centre de Recherche en Psychologie et Neurosciences, Marseille, France.
Imaging Neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.)
|June 10, 2026
Summary
Biscriptuals, who master two writing systems, show superior graphomotor control compared to monoscriptuals. This advantage is linked to optimized brain function, particularly in frontal theta and beta oscillations, suggesting enhanced predictive processing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Human Motor Control
Background:
- Biscriptuality, the mastery of two writing systems, is common in literate adults.
- Biscriptuals often exhibit enhanced graphomotor coordination compared to monoscriptuals.
- The neurocognitive underpinnings of this biscriptual advantage remain largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying the biscriptual advantage in graphomotor control.
- To determine if biscriptuals exhibit optimized planning, monitoring, or sensorimotor control.
- To analyze theta and beta oscillatory dynamics during a handwriting task.
Main Methods:
- Synchronized loop-tracing task on a digitizing tablet with electroencephalography (EEG) recordings.
- Analysis of theta (4-7 Hz) and beta (13-30 Hz) oscillatory dynamics.
- Comparison of behavioral performance (tracing frequency and stability) and neural activity between biscriptuals and monoscriptuals.
Main Results:
- Biscriptuals demonstrated significantly better tracing frequency and stability than monoscriptuals.
- Biscriptuals exhibited lower frontal theta power, correlated with reduced behavioral variability.
- Biscriptuals showed reduced beta synchronization over parieto-occipital areas, especially during high-demand tasks.
Conclusions:
- The biscriptual advantage is associated with optimized predictive inference, mediated by midfrontal theta oscillations.
- Reduced beta synchronization suggests a different reliance on sensory feedback in biscriptuals, particularly when motor demands are high.
- Handwriting control involves prefrontal and sensorimotor integration for predictive modeling, refined by writing expertise.
