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Prehension synergies: trial-to-trial variability and hierarchical organization of stable performance

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Abstract

We studied multi-digit synergies as relations among digit forces and points of their application across multiple repetitions of a static prehensile task. The task required holding a grasped object (14.9 N) against different external torques. Subjects (n=6) performed 25 trials for each torque condition: –1.0, –0.5, 0, +0.5 and +1.0 Nm. In spite of the variability of individual forces and points of their application, stable performance was achieved. Individual performance variables were organized into two subsets. Variables within each subset highly correlated with each other (the coefficients of correlation were close to ±1.0) while there was no correlation among variables from different subsets. The two subsets were associated with two components of the prehension task: grasp control (preventing an object from slipping out of the hand) and torque control (maintaining a desired object orientation).

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Acknowledgments

The study was in part supported by NIH grants NS-35032, AG-018751, and AR-048563. The authors are thankful to T. Pataky for help in editing the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, 39 Rec. Bldg, University Park, PA 16802, USA

    Jae K. Shim, Mark L. Latash & Vladimir M. Zatsiorsky

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  1. Jae K. Shim
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  2. Mark L. Latash
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  3. Vladimir M. Zatsiorsky
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Correspondence to Vladimir M. Zatsiorsky.

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Shim, J.K., Latash, M.L. & Zatsiorsky, V.M. Prehension synergies: trial-to-trial variability and hierarchical organization of stable performance. Exp Brain Res 152, 173–184 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-003-1527-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-003-1527-0

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