Dynamical Substructure of Coordinated Rhythmic Movements.

Number 771
Year 1991
Drawer 14
Entry Date 11/08/1999
Authors Schmidt, R. C., Beek, P. J., Treffner, P. J., & Turvey, M. T.
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Publication Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 17(3), 635-651.
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Abstract A coordinated rhythmic movement pattern is a dynamical activity involving many hidden layers of rhythmic subtasks. To investigate this dynamical substructure, spectroscopic concepts and methods were applied to an interlimb rhythmic movement task requiring 1:1 frequency locking of 2 hand-held pendulums in 180 phase relation. The pendulums could be of identical or very different dimensions, thereby providing different values of the ratio Omegaof uncoupled frequencies. Analyses focused on the power spectrum of continuous relative phase as a function of variation in Omega. Predictions were derived from the theories of mode locking and fractal time. Experimental results were in agreement with theoretical expectations and were discussed in terms of the possible recruiting of rhythmic subtasks in the assembling of interlimb absolute coordination, the interdependence of these subtasks, and the general dynamical principles that relate coordinative processes occurring at different length and time scales.
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