Bimanual coordination is an essential human function requiring efficient interhemispheric communication to produce coordinated movements. Motor deficits affect a variety of clinical populations, yet a complete understanding of bimanual coordination has yet to be achieved. Previous research suggests performance variability depends on the phase demands of the coordinated task and completing bimanual tasks may result in less variability than unimanual tasks, or a bimanual advantage. Also, handedness and musical/athletic experience have also been shown to influence coordinated performance. The present study examined the existence of a bimanual advantage and potential factors influencing coordination in a tapping paradigm. Results indicated that the strong-handed individuals displayed a strong bimanual advantage; whereas, weak-handed participants had a weak bimanual advantage. Variability did not differ by musical/athletic experience. In light of the present findings, relevant studies are needed to gain further insight into bimanual coordination and the underlying processes of motor movement.
","abstract_html":"<p>Bimanual coordination is an essential human function requiring efficient interhemispheric communication to produce coordinated movements. Motor deficits affect a variety of clinical populations, yet a complete understanding of bimanual coordination has yet to be achieved. Previous research suggests performance variability depends on the phase demands of the coordinated task and completing bimanual tasks may result in less variability than unimanual tasks, or a bimanual advantage. Also, handedness and musical/athletic experience have also been shown to influence coordinated performance. The present study examined the existence of a bimanual advantage and potential factors influencing coordination in a tapping paradigm. Results indicated that the strong-handed individuals displayed a strong bimanual advantage; whereas, weak-handed participants had a weak bimanual advantage. Variability did not differ by musical/athletic experience. In light of the present findings, relevant studies are needed to gain further insight into bimanual coordination and the underlying processes of motor movement.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Oswald, Kaitlin"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Jin Bo, Ph.D., Chair","Catherine Peterson, Ph.D.","Norm Gordon, Ph.D."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-05-08T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-05-08T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:06Z","subjects":["left- and right-handedness","Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/634","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Jin Bo, Ph.D., Chair","Catherine Peterson, Ph.D.","Norm Gordon, Ph.D."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Oswald, Kaitlin"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2016-03-14T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["left- and right-handedness","Psychology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/634"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Bimanual coordination is an essential human function requiring efficient interhemispheric communication to produce coordinated movements. Motor deficits affect a variety of clinical populations, yet a complete understanding of bimanual coordination has yet to be achieved. Previous research suggests performance variability depends on the phase demands of the coordinated task and completing bimanual tasks may result in less variability than unimanual tasks, or a bimanual advantage. Also, handedness and musical/athletic experience have also been shown to influence coordinated performance. The present study examined the existence of a bimanual advantage and potential factors influencing coordination in a tapping paradigm. Results indicated that the strong-handed individuals displayed a strong bimanual advantage; whereas, weak-handed participants had a weak bimanual advantage. Variability did not differ by musical/athletic experience. In light of the present findings, relevant studies are needed to gain further insight into bimanual coordination and the underlying processes of motor movement.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Variability in bimanual coordination across the continuum of handedness."]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Jin Bo, Ph.D., Chair","Catherine Peterson, Ph.D.","Norm Gordon, Ph.D."],"dc:creator":["Oswald, Kaitlin"],"dc:date.available":["2016-03-14T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Bimanual coordination is an essential human function requiring efficient interhemispheric communication to produce coordinated movements. Motor deficits affect a variety of clinical populations, yet a complete understanding of bimanual coordination has yet to be achieved. Previous research suggests performance variability depends on the phase demands of the coordinated task and completing bimanual tasks may result in less variability than unimanual tasks, or a bimanual advantage. Also, handedness and musical/athletic experience have also been shown to influence coordinated performance. The present study examined the existence of a bimanual advantage and potential factors influencing coordination in a tapping paradigm. Results indicated that the strong-handed individuals displayed a strong bimanual advantage; whereas, weak-handed participants had a weak bimanual advantage. Variability did not differ by musical/athletic experience. In light of the present findings, relevant studies are needed to gain further insight into bimanual coordination and the underlying processes of motor movement.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/634"],"dc:subject":["left- and right-handedness","Psychology"],"dc:title":["Variability in bimanual coordination across the continuum of handedness."],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:06Z"}