Effects of Bimanual Motor Learning on Unimanual Performance

Abstract

Motor learning is believed to be an important part of motor rehabilitation. Another approach is bimanual training that can improve post-stroke rehabilitation outcome and is associated with interlimb coordination between limbs. A novel bimanual 2-DOF robotic system was used for both bimanual and unimanual reaching movements. Healthy adults performed movements under different conditions (bimanual or unimanual). The training consisted of a simple tracking exercise that stimulates motor learning by applying a velocity dependent disturbance torque to the handlebar.Performancewas assessed with the rotation errors of the handlebar. The learning effect indicated by decreasing errors was present during both unimanual and bimanual training. Errors in unimanual evaluation following the bimanual training phase were not significantly different from errors in unimanual evaluation following unimanual training. Transfer of learned skills from bimanual training to unimanual movements was also observed, as bimanual training also improved single limb performance with the dominant arm.

This work was supported by the Slovenian Research Agency.