A theoretical model of phase transitions in human hand movements.
Abstract
Earlier experimental studies by one of us (Kelso, 1981a, 1984) have shown that abrupt phase transitions occur in human hand movements under the influence of scalar changes in cycling frequency. Beyond a critical frequency the originally prepared out-of-phase, antisymmetric mode is replaced by a symmetrical, in-phase mode involving simultaneous activation of homologous muscle groups. Qualitatively, these phase transitions are analogous to gait shifts in animal locomotion as well as phenomena common to other physical and biological systems in which new "modes" or spatiotemporal patterns arise when the system is parametrically scaled beyond its equilibrium state (Haken, 1983). In this paper a theoretical model, using concepts central to the interdisciplinary field of synergetics and nonlinear oscillator theory, is developed, which reproduces (among other features) the dramatic change in coordinative pattern observed between the hands.
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Models of self-organized systems predict that synchronous actions may fall into one of only two dynamically stable states: inphase or antiphase.
“In a related vein, models of self-organized systems predict that synchronous actions may fall into one of only two dynamically stable states: inphase or antiphase (Haken et al., 1985).”
From Synchrony in Psychotherapy: A Review and an Integrative Framework for the Therapeutic Alliance (2016) · cites this paper as Haken et al., 1985
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- Authors
- Haken, H., Kelso, J. A. S., & Bunz, H.
- Affiliations
- University of Stuttgart (DE)
- Haskins Laboratories (US)
- ORCID
- Kelso, J. A. S.
- Venue
- Biological Cybernetics
- Published
- 1985-02
- Volume
- 51
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 347-356
- ISSN
- 0340-1200 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-0770
- OpenAlex
- W1964069773
- Cited by
- 2,328
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 59 · 2025: 57 · 2024: 60 · 2023: 71 · 2022: 75 · 2021: 83 · 2020: 83 · 2019: 94 · 2018: 87 · 2017: 87 · 2016: 82 · 2015: 76 · 2014: 102 · 2013: 82 · 2012: 76
- FWCI
- 11.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Biological Cybernetics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS-13617)
- National Center for Research Resources (RR05596)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Networks and Communications › Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation
- Keywords
- phase transitions, coordination patterns, muscle activation, cycling frequency, synergetics, nonlinear oscillators, spatiotemporal patterns, motor control
- MeSH terms
- Hand, Humans, Mathematics, Models, Biological, Movement
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