Bimanual movement is integral to daily function. As such, it is important to understand factors that influence bimanual performance. Playing the piano was employed to examine bimanual movement. Additionally, the weather prediction task was administered as a measure of non-declarative learning. Sex influenced motor performance. Males tended to perform asymmetrical movements with less skill than females. Age affected motor performance. Older adults were less proficient, but improved similarly with practice as young adults. Further, older adults exhibited differential deterioration of bimanual movement. Feedback and music training affected motor performance. Females performed bimanual movement less proficiently with auditory feedback. Individuals with music training performed bimanual movements relative to unimanual movements better with feedback. Music training moderated age-related differential deterioration of bimanual movements. Older adults performed significantly worse than young adults on the weather prediction task. In addition, the weather prediction task correlated with motor measures in a sample including older adults. / xii, 159 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate manual asymmetries in the reach-to-grasp movement based on two hypotheses: 1) manual asymmetries are resultant from asymmetries in the dorsal vision-for-action system; and 2) manual asymmetries are contingent on task difficulty. Participants grasped glasses of water under different visual-feedback conditions. Demand was manipulated by varying the level of the water contained in the glass. Hand asymmetries of the reach-to-grasp movement were studied through kinematic analyses. Visual feedback availability and task demand affected all kinematic measures. Manual asymmetries were found in peak velocity, movement time, and variability of maximum grip aperture. Consistent with reach-to-point literature, reach-to-grasp actions were faster and more accurate when performed with the right hand and when guided by the dorsal vision-for-action system. The results of the thesis provide support for a theory of left-hemisphere specialization for the visual control of actions. / xiv, 121 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm