STRATEGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OF A 5 3 POLYRHYTHM/

The effect of part-task training (each hand separately) procedures was examined on the motor organization adopted by subjects in a bimanual task requiring the concurrent production of two different isochronous sequences. For both musicians and nonmusicians part-task training enco uraging an integrated motor organization was more effective than part- task training emphasizing a parallel organization. Furthermore, in the performance of the bimanual task musically trained subjects. in both training conditions, adopted an integrated motor organization in which movements of the slow hand were subordinate to movements of the fast hand. These results suggest that the use of independent timing mechani sms for the two hands may not be possible in the performance of bimanu al activities.