Handedness did not affect motor skill acquisition by the dominant hand or interlimb transfer to the non-dominant hand regardless of task complexity level

Abstract

Patients undergoing unilateral orthopedic or neurological rehabilitation have different levels of impairments in the right- or left-dominant hand. However, how handedness and the complexity of the motor task affect motor skill acquisition and its interlimb transfer remains unknown. In the present study, participants performed finger key presses on a numeric keypad at 4 levels of sequence complexities with each hand in a randomized order. Furthermore, they also performed motor sequence practice with the dominant hand to determine its effect on accuracy, reaction time, and movement time. The NASA-TLX at the end of each block of both testing and practice was used to confirm participants’ mental workload related to sequence complexity. Both right- and left-handed participants performed the motor sequence task with faster RT when using their right hand. Although participants had increasing RT with increasing sequence complexity, this association was unrelated to handedness. Motor sequence practice produced motor skill acquisition and interlimb transfer indicated by a decreased RT, however, these changes were independent of handedness. Higher sequence complexity was still associated with longer RT after the practice, moreover, both right- and left-handed participants’ RT increased with the same magnitude with the increase in sequence complexity. Similar behavioral pattern was observed in MT as in RT. Overall, our RT results may indicate left-hemisphere specialization for motor sequencing tasks, however, neuroimaging studies are needed to support these findings. On the other hand, handedness did not affect motor skill acquisition by the dominant hand or interlimb transfer to the non-dominant hand regardless of task complexity level.

Identifying the Level of Symmetrization of Reaction Time According to Manual Lateralization between Team Sports Athletes, Individual Sports Athletes, and Non-Athletes

“…The specifics of team sports require from the athletes a special technical level and a great ability to adapt physical and technical skills in ever-changing conditions imposed by the specifics of the game, the level of sports training, the play of teammates, and especially the play of opponents [31,32]. The efficiency of training, evaluation, and performance of players in training and competition conditions is conditioned by the ability to analyze and make cognitive decisions, by the speed of motor reactions, and by the efficiency of technical executions [33,34]. In individual sports, the reaction time in performing motor skills which do not involve manual execution is manifested at the level of motor reactions, the ability to analyze and decide, changes in direction, and the transformation and combination of movements [35][36][37][38].…”

Multiscopic CPSS for Independent Block-Design Test Based on Hand–Object Interaction Recognition With Visual Attention

“…Notably, all participants could complete the eight BDT patterns within a relatively short time frame. Participants who predominantly used their dominant hand exhibited slightly better performance than those using their non-dominant hand, with a noticeable difference in completion time [59]. Conversely, participants who excelled with their non-dominant hand exhibited slightly lower completion times than those using their dominant hand.…”