Bi-Manual Motor Control

In her 1961 Elanor Slagle Lecture, Mary Reilly provided the famous phrase that has inspired countless occupational therapists, namely, “Man through the use of his hands, as they are energized by mind and will, can influence the stat of his own health.”  Interacting within the environment, whether it is with people, or objects, Dr. Reilly recognized that the hands are commonly involved in engagement.  Arguably, this would involve either unilateral or bilateral use of the hands. This line of research investigates the interlimb coupling phenomena that occurs between the limbs in either unilaterally within a learning paradigm known as cross transfer, or bilaterally within an ‘online’ immediate motor-control-related influence.  This line of research also incorporates varying levels of meaning within the context using normal and special populations.

Reilly, M. (1962). Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lecture: Occupational therapy can be one of the great ideas of 20th century medicine. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 16(1), 1-9.

Investigators at TWU

• Martin S Rice, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Outside Collaborators 

• Nagel, M. J.
• Eastridge, K. M.
• Newell, K. M.
• Gosser, S. M.

Publications 

• Rice, M. S. (1998). Purposefulness and cross transfer in a forearm supination and pronation task. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 5, 31-37.
• Nagel, M. J., & Rice, M. S. (2001).  Cross-transfer effects in the upper extremity during an occupationally embedded exercise.  American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 55, 317-323.
• Eastridge, K.M., & Rice, M.S. (2004).The effect of task goal on cross transfer in a supination and pronation task. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 11, 128-135.
• Rice, M. S., & Newell, K. M. (2001).  Interlimb coupling and left hemiplegia because of right cerebral vascular accident.  The Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 21, 12-28.
• Rice, M. S., & Newell, K. M. (2004).  Bimanual upper extremity movements in persons with left hemiplegia due to stroke.  Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 85, 629-34.
• Gosser, S.M., & Rice, M.S. (2015). Efficiency of Unimanual and Bimanual Reach in Persons with and without Stroke. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, 22(1), 56-62. 

Page last updated 3:59 PM, May 30, 2023