About this Research Topic
In addition to various motor systems like those controlling the arm, hand, and posture, most activities involving manipulating natural objects require integrating multiple sensory systems. Visual input is particularly essential in guiding the movements needed for these tasks. People naturally focus their gaze on visible targets. Doing so allows them to effectively use visual feedback about their hand's position to guide their hand. Furthermore, proprioceptive and motor signals associated with the gaze's position can also be used to direct the hand; even when the hand itself is not visible, focusing the gaze on the target enhances the accuracy of reaching movements. Beyond its role in manipulation, the hand serves as a highly sensitive sensory organ, equipped with countless tactile and somatosensory receptors, allowing humans to experience their immediate surroundings.
The investigation of various abilities in manual tasks has recently received increased attention for two primary reasons.
They serve as a distinctive manifestation of multitasking, providing insights into managing multiple command streams by the central nervous system (CNS).
Manual tasks are crucial in detecting motor impairments and comprehending lateralization and asymmetry processes within neurodegenerative disorders. The specific functions of these cerebral regions in behavior and cognitive processes still need to be fully comprehended, and they are currently a topic of ongoing discussion.
Object manipulation often involves both hands collaborating to achieve a single goal, like unscrewing a jar. However, these activities' underlying neural networks and brain representations are often overlooked.
Our objective is to collect insights from leading researchers who highlight how manual behavior emerges from the interplay between internal factors (such as proprioceptive and somatosensory input and selective visual attention) and external factors like objects' mechanical properties and the task's requirements. Simultaneously, our goal is to gather information on the brain areas that play a unique role in bimanual movements, distinguishing them from the functions required for unimanual movements and what computational limitations are involved.
Keywords: bimanual movements, tool use, motor representation, peripersonal space, self-defense space, Sensory-Motor Integration
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