Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Intermanual transfer of force control is modulated by asymmetry of muscular strength

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Experimental Brain Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Interlateral transfer of learning is conceptualized as an index of the degree to which learning takes place at a lower level of motor control, with strong dependence on the effector system, or at a higher effector-independent level in the movement organization hierarchy. In this study, the locus of motor learning was investigated by increasing lateral asymmetry of force between the wrist flexor muscles, and comparing the amount of interlateral transfer of force control in relation to a condition of symmetric force. To perform this contrast, the participants were assigned to one of three groups: symmetric force (SM), who were left with original asymmetries of muscular strength; asymmetric force (AS), who had unilateral training for increment of maximum strength for the wrist flexor muscles; or a control condition (CO). The learning task consisted of launching a small cart across a metallic trackway with the preferred hand, aiming at making the cart achieve an instantaneous velocity of 70 cm/s. This action was practiced for 300 trials by the SM and AS group, while the CO group had active rest. The groups, then, were submitted to a transfer task requiring a mirrored action with the contralateral hand. The results indicated that the SM group achieved significantly higher interlateral transfer of learning as compared to the AS group, which presented response variability similar to the CO group. Analysis of directional trend of error revealed that the AS group presented a significant target overshoot as compared with the symmetric force groups. These findings suggest that an absolute force is learnt at a higher level in the action hierarchy, and that decline in interlateral transfer of learning in the asymmetric force condition was motivated by a resetting in the interplay between higher and lower levels of movement control.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The experimental procedures were approved by the local ethics committee, in accordance with international standards of research in humans.

References

  • Brinkman J, Kuypers HGJM (1973) Cerebral control of contralateral and ipsilateral arm, hand and finger movements in the split-brain rhesus monkey. Brain 96:653–674

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dizio P, Lackner JR (1995) Motor adaptation to coriolis force perturbations of reaching movements: endpoint but not trajectory adaptation transfers to the nonexposed arm. J Neurophysiol 74:1787–1792

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elbert T, Pantev C, Wienbruch C, Rockstroh B, Taub E (1995) Increased cortical representation of the fingers of the left hand in string players. Science 270:305–307

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon AM, Forssberg H, Iwasaki N (1994) Formation and lateralization of internal representations underlying motor commands during precision grip. Neuropsychologia 555–568

  • Hicks RE (1974) Asymmetry of bilateral transfer. Am J Psychol 87:667–674

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollerbach JM (1990) Fundamentals of motor behavior. In: Osherson DN, Kosslyn SM, Hollerbach JM (eds) Visual cognition and action: an invitation to cognitive science (vol. 2). MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, pp 153–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Houston ME, Froese EA, Valeriote SP, Green HJ, Ranney DA (1983) Muscle performance, morphology and metabolic capacity during strength training and detraining: a one leg model. Eur J Appl Physiol 51:25–35

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Imamizu H, Shimojo S (1995) The locus of visual-motor learning at the task or manipulator level: implications for intermanual transfer. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 21:719–733

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Imamizu H, Uno Y, Kawato M (1998) Adaptive internal model of intrinsic kinematics involved in learning an aiming task. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 24:812–829

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ingram D (1975) Motor asymmetries in young children. Neuropsychologia 13:95–10

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ioffe M, Massion J, Gantchev N, Dufosse M, Kulikov MA (1996) Coordination between posture and movement in a bimanual load-lifting task: is there a transfer? Exp Brain Res 109:450–456

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karni A, Meyer G, Jezzard P, Adams MM, Turner R, Ungerleider LG (1995) Functional MRI evidence for adult motor cortex plasticity during skill learning. Nature 377:155–158

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kitazawa S, Kimura T, Uka T (1997) Prism adaptation of reaching movements: specificity for the velocity of reaching. J Neurosci 17:1481–1492

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Komi PV, Viitasalo JT, Rauramaa R, Vihko V (1978) Effect of isometric strength training on mechanical, electrical, and metabolic aspects of muscle function. Eur J Appl Physiol 40:45–55

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laszlo JI, Baguley RA, Bairstow PJ (1970) Bilateral transfer in tapping skill in the absence of peripheral information. J Motor Behav 2:261–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus J-AC, Haynes JM (1997) Isometric pinch force control and learning in older adults. Exp Aging Res 23:179–200

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moritani TMA, deVries HA (1979) Neural factors versus hypertrophy in the time course of muscle strength training. Am J Phys Med 58:115–130

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morton SM, Lang CE, Bastian AJ (2001) Inter- and intra-limb generalization of adaptation during catching. Exp Brain Res 141:438–445

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oldfield RC (1971) The assessment and analysis of handedness: the Edinburgh inventory. Neuropsychologia 9:97–113

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Park JH, Shea Ch (2002). Effector independence. J Motor Behav 34:253–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Parlow SE, Kinsbourne M (1989) Asymmetrical transfer of training between hands: implications for interhemispheric communication in normal brain. Brain Cogn 11:98–113

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parlow SE, Kinsbourne M (1990) Asymmetrical transfer of Braille acquisition between hands. Brain Lang 39:319–330

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pascual-Leone A, Torres F (1993) Plasticity of the sensorimotor cortex representation of the reading finger in the Braille readers. Brain 116:39–52

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Puretz SL (1983) Bilateral transfer: the effects of practice on the transfer of complex dance movement patterns. Res Q Exerc Sport 54:48–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Recanzone GH, Merzenich MM, Jenkins WM, Grajski KA, Dinse HR (1992) Topographic reorganization of the hand representation in cortical area 3b of owl monkeys trained in a frequency-discrimination task. J Neurophysiol 67:1031–1056

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rigal R (1992) Which handedness: preference or performance? Percept Mot Skills 75:851–866

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Salimi I, Hollender I, Frazier W, Gordon AM (2000) Specificity of internal representation underlying grasping. J Neurophysiol 84:2390–2397

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sathian K, Zangaladze A (1997) Tactile learning is task specific but transfers between fingers. Percept Psychophys 59:119–128

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sathian K, Zangaladze A (1998) Perceptual learning in tactile hyperacuity: complete intermanual transfer but limited retention. Exp Brain Res 118:131–134

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stoddard J, Vaid J (1996) Asymmetries in intermanual transfer of maze learning in right- and left-handed adults. Neuropsychologia 34:605–608

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor HG, Heilman KM (1980) Left-hemisphere motor dominance in right-handers. Cortex 16:587–603

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Teixeira LA (1993) Bilateral transfer of learning: the effector side in focus. J Hum Mov Stud 25:243–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Teixeira LA (1999) On what is transferred to one hand when grasping a moving ball is learnt with the other hand. Ciênc Cult 51:42–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Teixeira LA (2000) Timing and force components in bilateral transfer of learning. Brain Cogn 44:455–469

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Teixeira LA (2001) Variations in performance and lateral asymmetries with aging. In: Proceedings of the SCAPPS-2001 Annual Conference. Montreal, Canada, p 67

  • Teixeira LA, Paroli R (2000) Assimetrias laterais em ações motoras: preferência versus desempenho [lateral asymmetries in motor actions: preference versus performance]. Motriz 6:1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Thut G, Cook N, Regard M, Leenders K, Halsband U, Landis T (1996) Intermanual transfer of proximal and distal motor engrams in humans. Exp Brain Res 108:321–327

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weir JP, Housh TJ, Weir L (1994) Electromyographic evaluation of joint angle specificity and cross-training after isometric training. J Appl Physiol 77:197–201

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yasuda Y, Miyamura M (1983) Cross transfer effects of muscular training on blood flow in the ipsilateral and contralateral forearms. Eur J Appl Physiol 51:321–329

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yue G, Cole KJ (1992) Strength increases from the motor program: comparison of training with maximal voluntary and imagined muscle contractions. J Neurophysiol 67:1114–1123

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by FAPESP, Brazil, through acquisition of the equipment used in this study, grant 98/0535-0, and by providing a scholarship (97/14382-8) for the second author. The authors are thankful to Dr. Valmor Tricoli, Dr. Digby Elliott, and one anonymous reviewer for their comments on earlier drafts of this article, and to Mariana Franzoni for preparing Fig. 1.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Luis Augusto Teixeira & Leandro Quedas Caminha

  2. Escola de Educação Física e Esporte, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Mello Moraes 65., 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil

    Luis Augusto Teixeira

Authors
  1. Luis Augusto Teixeira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Leandro Quedas Caminha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luis Augusto Teixeira.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Teixeira, L.A., Caminha, L.Q. Intermanual transfer of force control is modulated by asymmetry of muscular strength. Exp Brain Res 149, 312–319 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-002-1363-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-002-1363-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation