Independence of timing and force control during finger-tapping sequences by pianists

Percept Mot Skills. 2001 Oct;93(2):556-8. doi: 10.2466/pms.2001.93.2.556.

Abstract

To examine the relation between timing and forcc control during finger-tapping sequences by both the 10 pianists and the 13 nonpianists, participants tapped a force plate connected to strain gauges. A series of finger-tapping tasks consisted of 16 combinations of pace and peak force. Analysis showed that pianists had smaller correlation between intertap interval and peak force than nonpianists. Thus, force control was more independent of timing for pianists than for nonpianists.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motor Activity*
  • Motor Skills*
  • Music*
  • Practice, Psychological
  • Pressure
  • Reaction Time
  • Time Perception*