Studies of Squeezing: Handedness, Responding Hand, Response Force, and Asymmetry of Readiness Potential

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1974

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.186.4163.545

Abstract

Slow cortical potentials that precede self-paced voluntary movement (1-4) have excited much interest. Although they may provide a useful tool for the study of physiological mechanisms underlying voluntary movement, considerable controversy still remains. Especially prominent have been suggestions that these potentials represent either diffuse arousal mechanisms or, alternately, postresponse proprioceptive activity (3, 4). We present evidence that these potentials are associated with the execution of specific movements, rather than with diffuse arousing, preparatory processes. This we infer from the fact that the amplitude, and scalp distribution, of these potentials is strongly determined by parameters of the subject's movement. We also show that the degree of hemispheric asymmetry of these potentials is different in right- and left-handed subjects.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

No

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Science, v. 186, issue 4163, p. 545-548

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