Measurement of Motor Styles

Abstract

In the attempt to depress and release a spring-loaded hand key slowly and steadily there was a significantly greater expenditure of energy by the preferred hand than by the nonpreferred hand when both performed the task together, but not when performance was independent. The expression of energy by the preferred hand resting passively on the key while the nonpreferred hand performed the depressing-and-releasing task was greater than that of the nonpreferred hand in the passive role. The expenditure of energy with either hand was significantly greater when both performed the depressing-and-releasing operation simultaneously than when one hand performed the task independently with the other resting passively upon the key. Individual differences in performance suggest two motor styles, speed control and tremor control.