Skip to main content
Dryad

The microstructure of intra- and interpersonal coordination

Data files

Nov 15, 2023 version files 71.41 MB

Abstract

Movements are naturally composed of submovements - i.e., recurrent speed pulses (2-3 Hz) - possibly reflecting intermittent feedback-based motor adjustments. In (unimanual) movement synchronization tasks, submovements produced by interacting partners alternate in time, indicating mutual coregulation based on visual information exchange. However, it is unclear whether submovement coordination is organized differently between individuals and within individuals (between effectors). Indeed, different types of sensory feedback (proprioceptive, visual) can be variably exploited for intrapersonal and interpersonal coordination. In a series of bimanual tasks performed alone or in pairs, we show distinct coordinative structures emerging at the submovement level. Specifically, the relative timing of submovements (between partners/effectors) shifts from alternation to simultaneity and a mixture of the two when using only visual information (interpersonal), only proprioceptive information (intrapersonal, without vision), or both types of information (intrapersonal, full feedback), respectively. These results suggest that submovement coordination represents a behavioral proxy for the adaptive weighting of different sources of information within action-perception loops depending on the sensory feedback that is most relevant and/or available for motor coordination. In sum, the microstructure of movement reveals common principles governing the dynamics of low-level sensorimotor control to achieve both intra- and interpersonal coordination.