Effects of complementary control on the coordination dynamics of joint-action

Previous research has revealed that the behavioral dynamics of joint-action can naturally emerge from the physical and informational constraints that define a shared task-goal. The emergence of complementary actions is often an inherent aspect of robust and flexible joint-action performance. We examined the interpersonal coordination and control that emerged between two individuals performing a virtual labyrinth ball-control game. Key manipulations involved whether control was symmetrical (i.e. both individuals had full control of the board tilt) or asymmetrical (i.e. one with control of the x-axis of tilt and the other with control of the y-axis of tilt). Data on a solo individual two-handed version of the task was also collected for comparison purposes. Our results revealed that the patterns of synergistic coordination that emerged were similar for pairs and individuals, and that both pairs and individuals maintain task success by mutually adapting the coordination and control dynamics across different task manipulations.