Gender-Dependent Bimanual Task Performance

Abstract

Background and Objective. Many studies have suggested that each hand has a different special talent; however, there is a lack of data in the area of goal-directed bimanual hand coordination and its dependence on gender. The aim of this paper was to investigate gender-dependent bimanual speed-accuracy task performance. Material and Methods. Twelve healthy young males and twelve healthy young females (all righthanded) performed protractile movements with both arms simultaneously by pushing joysticks toward two targets as quickly and accurately as possible. Results. Though no significant difference was observed in the reaction time during a unimanual speed-accuracy task between the left and right hands as well as men and women, during a bimanual task, the reaction time of both the hands was significantly longer in women than men. There was no significant difference in the velocity of both the hands during a bimanual speed-accuracy task between men and women, while the accuracy of the left hand was significantly greater in men than women. There was no significant difference in intraindividual variability in the reaction time, maximal velocity, and path of movement between men and women as well as the left and right hands, but variability in the average velocity of the right hand both in women and men was significantly greater compared with their left hand. Conclusions. Whereas people typically look at the target location for a reaching movement, it is possible that two objects are simultaneously fixated.