Motor Asymmetry in Elite Fencers

ABSTRACT

The authors previously reported that asymmetrical patterns of hand preference are updated and modified by present sensorimotor conditions. They examined whether participation in long-term training in the upper extremity sport fencing might modify arm selection and performance asymmetries. Eight fencers and eight nonfencers performed reaching movements under 3 experimental conditions: (a) nonchoice right, (b) nonchoice left, and (c) choice, either right or left arm as selected by subject. The nonchoice conditions allowed assessment of potential interlimb differences in movement performance, while the choice condition allowed assessment of the frequency and pattern of arm selection across subject groups. Our findings showed that the athlete group showed substantially greater symmetry in the performance and selection measures. These findings suggest that arm selection and performance asymmetries can be altered by intense long-term practice.

Keywords:

• motor asymmetry
• motor lateralization
• arm movement
• fencers
• handedness
• hand preference
• arm reaching
• athletes

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The data used in this study were collected in partial fulfillment of the requirements of Selcuk Akpinar's doctoral dissertation. The authors would like to thank the members of the Penn State Fencing Team for their collaboration.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by grant #R01 HD059783 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NICHD to Robert L. Sainburg. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.