Damage to the parietal lobe impairs bimanual coordination

Abstract

Moving the upper limbs at a common tempo according to a mirror or parallel mode represents elementary coordination dynamics. Previously, the role of the medial wall areas have been emphasized for successful production of these bimanual patterns. The involvement of the parietal lobe is less clear despite its importance for the representation of motor skill and sensorimotor integration. The objective of this study was to investigate temporal control in patients with parietal pathology when performing isofrequency configurations. As compared to control subjects, these patients showed desynchronization of movement trajectories that was most apparent during parallel patterns. These observations suggest the significant role of the parietal lobe for bimanual coordination which becomes increasingly relevant as a function of task complexity.