Lateralization and Model Transference in a Bilateral Cursor Task

Abstract

Post-stroke rehabilitation, occupational and physical therapy, and training for use of assistive prosthetics leverages our current understanding of bilateral motor control to better train individuals. In this study, we examine upper limb lateralization and model transference using a bimanual joystick cursor task with orthogonal controls. Two groups of healthy subjects are recruited into a 2-session study spaced seven days apart. One group uses their left and right hands to control cursor position and rotation respectively, while the other uses their right and left hands. The groups switch control methods in the second session, and a rotational perturbation is applied to the positional controls in the latter half of each session. We find agreement with current lateralization theories when comparing robustness to feedforward perturbations in feedback and feedforward measures. We find no evidence of a transferable model after seven days, and evidence that the brain does not synchronize task completion between the hands.