Cognitive and biomechanical inXuences in pianists’ Wnger tapping

Movement sequences such as typing or tapping display important interactions among Wnger movements arising from anticipatory motion (preparing for upcoming events) and coupling (non-independence among Wngers). We examined pianists’ Wnger tapping for the inXuence of cognitive chunking processes and biomechanical coupling constraints. In a synchronization-continuation task, pianists repeatedly tapped four-Wnger sequences that diVered in terms of the chunks that formed subsequences and in the transitions among physically adjacent or nonadjacent Wngers. Chunking inXuenced intertap intervals, regardless of the particular Wngers tapped; the Wnal tap of each chunk was lengthened and less variable relative to other taps. The particular Wngers tapped inXuenced peak Wnger heights, consistency of motion, and velocity–acceleration patterns, regardless of chunking. Thus, cognitive constraints inXuenced timing, whereas biomechanical factors inXuenced motion trajectories. These Wndings provide an important caveat for study of anticipatory motion by documenting the inXuence of biomechanical coupling on motion trajectories.