Hand Difference in Multi-finger Quick Force Pulse Production

Several recent studies have suggested that the dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) hands have different specialization with respect to trajectory and endpoint location control (Sainburg 2002; Sainburg & Schaeffer 2004). In particular, the D hand is assumed to have a better interaction torque compensation. We hypothesize that the control mechanisms for the D and ND hands may differ in their more general ability to create multi-element synergies stabilizing the time profile of a performance variable. This hypothesis was tested in experiments with multi-finger isometric force production that do not involve significant interaction torques.