Relative phase stability: The interaction of attentional instruction and frequency on relative phase of bimanual coordination movements

Year 2016, Volume: 18 Issue: 2, 40 - 45, 31.08.2016

Ehsan Zareıan

Abstract

The present
paper aimed to study the effect of using attentional instruction and increasing
the rhythm on the relative phase stability of coordinated out-phase bimanual
coordination movements. Using a plotter device, the participants (N=16)
performed out-phase bimanual coordination pattern (45, 90, and 135 degree) while
focusing on signs of the device (external attention) or their forearm (internal
attention) or without attentional instruction with increasing frequency. KP was provided to participants after each attempt. Dependent variables were analyzed by
3 (attention) × 3 (relative phase) × 4 (frequency) analysis of variance with
repeated measures on second and third variables. The results revealed that
external attention lead to increased stability of relative phase in all three
phase patterns. Additionally, increased frequency of motions caused decreased
stability of relative in all three patterns. Findings of this study
corroborated the constrained action hypothesis and showed that, unlike in-phase
and anti-phase attractor patterns and because of the difficulty out-phase patterns, external attention instruction can act contrary to linear changes of control parameter and increase their stability of
relative phases.

Keywords

Attentional instructions, bimanual coordination, frequency, relative phase stability

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