What Do Synergies Do? Effects of Secondary Constraints on Multidigit Synergies in Accurate Force-Production Tasks

• Published in: Journal of neurophysiology Vol. 99; no. 2; pp. 500 - 513
• Main Authors: Zhang, Wei, Scholz, John P, Zatsiorsky, Vladimir M, Latash, Mark L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Phys Soc 01.02.2008
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Female; Fingers - innervation; Fingers - physiology; Hand Strength - physiology; Humans; Male; Models, Biological; Movement - physiology; Postural Balance - physiology; Principal Component Analysis; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Task Performance and Analysis; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0022-3077; 1522-1598
• DOI: 10.1152/jn.01029.2007

1 Department of Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania; 2 Department of Physical Therapy and Biomechanics and Movement Science Program, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware Submitted 17 September 2007; accepted in final form 23 November 2007 We used the framework of the uncontrolled manifold (UCM) hypothesis to explore changes in the structure of variability in multifinger force-production tasks when a secondary task was introduced. Healthy young subjects produced several levels of the total force by pressing with the four fingers of the hand on force sensors. The frame with the sensors rested on the table ( Stable condition) or on a narrow supporting beam ( Unstable conditions) that could be placed between different finger pairs. Most variance in the finger mode space was compatible with a fixed value of the total force across all conditions, whereas the patterns of sharing of the total force among the fingers were condition dependent. Moment of force was stabilized only in the Unstable conditions. The finger mode data were projected onto the UCM computed for the total force and subjected to principal component (PC) analysis. Two PCs accounted for >90% of the variance. The directions of the PC vectors varied across subjects in the Stable condition, whereas two "default" PCs were observed under the Unstable conditions. These observations show that different persons coordinate their fingers differently in force-production tasks. They converge on similar solutions when an additional constraint is introduced. The use of variable solutions allows avoiding a loss in accuracy of performance when the same elements get involved in another task. Our results suggest a mechanism underlying the principle of superposition suggested in a variety of human and robotic studies. Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: M. L. Latash, Rec Hall-268N, Department of Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 (E-mail: mll11{at}psu.edu )