Research article summary (published 15 Oct 2006):

Perception of individual finger forces during multi-finger force production tasks.

Full Abstract

The present study examined perception of individual finger forces during multi-finger force production tasks. In an ipsilateral force matching paradigm, 12 healthy subjects were instructed to produce a reference force pre-determined at 30% MVC of involved fingers (varying from 1 to 4 fingers, visual feedback of total force, 5 s), and then to reproduce only the index or little finger portion of the total reference force (i.e., a portion of the sum, no visual feedback, 4 s) after a brief relaxation period (visual feedback of all finger forces, 3 s). The absolute force that individual fingers produced was approximately 30% of single-finger maximal force across different multi-finger reference force production tasks. During subsequent force matching, the index finger matching force was not significantly different from its own reference force, independent of the number of simultaneously activated fingers. The little finger, in contrast, produced significantly greater matching forces when three (middle, ring, and little) or four (index, middle, ring and little) fingers, but not two (ring and little) fingers, were simultaneously activated. The results suggest that index finger forces are more accurately estimated than little finger forces during multi-finger force production. The disparity in perception of individual finger forces is likely due to the ability of the central nervous system to partition and direct descending motor commands to the index finger.

Author information

Author/s: Li, Sheng (S);

Affiliation: Motor Control Laboratory, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA. sheng.li(-atsign-)umontana.edu

Grants: 1R15NS053442-01A1 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; R15 NS053442-01A1 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Neuroscience letters (Neurosci Lett), published in Ireland. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Dec; vol 409 (issue 3) : pp 239-43

Dates: Created 2006/11/06; Completed 2007/01/04; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 17049740, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Female Fingers - physiology Hand Strength - physiology Humans Isometric Contraction - physiology Male Middle Aged

Middle Aged Muscle, Skeletal - innervation; physiology Perception - physiology Physical Exertion - physiology Postural Balance - physiology Psychomotor Performance - physiology Stress, Mechanical Volition - physiology

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