Relative performance of the two hands in simple and choice reaction time tasks
Braz. j. med. biol. res
; 47(1): 80-89, 01/2014. tab, graf
Article
in En
| LILACS
| ID: lil-697669
Responsible library:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
There is evidence that the left hemisphere is more competent for motor control than the right hemisphere. This study investigated whether this hemispheric asymmetry is expressed in the latency/duration of sequential responses performed by the left and/or right hands. Thirty-two right-handed young adults (16 males, 16 females; 18-25 years old) were tested in a simple or choice reaction time task. They responded to a left and/or right visual target by moving their left and/or right middle fingers between two keys on each side of the midline. Right hand reaction time did not differ from left hand reaction time. Submovement times were longer for the right hand than the left hand when the response was bilateral. Pause times were shorter for the right hand than the left hand, both when the responses were unilateral or bilateral. Reaction time results indicate that the putatively more efficient response preparation by the left hemisphere motor mechanisms is not expressed behaviorally. Submovement time and pause time results indicate that the putatively more efficient response execution by the left hemisphere motor mechanisms is expressed behaviorally. In the case of the submovements, the less efficient motor control of the left hand would be compensated by a more intense attention to this hand.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
LILACS
Main subject:
Orientation
/
Psychomotor Performance
/
Reaction Time
/
Attention
/
Hand
/
Functional Laterality
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
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Female
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Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Braz. j. med. biol. res
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
/
MEDICINA
Year:
2014
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Publication country:
BR
/
BRASIL
/
BRASILE
/
BRAZIL
/
BRESIL