THE DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS OF BIMANUAL COORDINATION - A DYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE

Patterns of interlimb coordination associated with infant reaching flu ctuate frequently over developmental time. This study investigated whe ther these fluctuations are related to coordination tendencies. Interl imb patterns were studied in reaching and nonreaching movements in 4 i nfants, which were followed through their Ist year. Each week, reachin g and nonreaching endpoint kinematics were recorded in both arms durin g multiple 14-s trials. It was found that patterns of interlimb coordi nation in reaching matched coordination tendencies in nonreaching. Rea ching fluctuated between uni- and bimanual periods. During the bimanua l periods, nonreaching interlimb activity tended to be synchronous. Du ring the unimanual periods, nonreaching activity revealed no predomina nt form of interlimb coordination. It is argued that changing coordina tion tendencies may influence the organization of specific goal-orient ed behaviors from early in life.