Human Hand Function

Hands are miraculous tools that are used both for sensing and acting on the world. Although a great deal of research has been conducted on human hand function, there is no coherent presentation of it to guide those seeking to understand its current state. This volume surveys normal hand function in healthy individuals and presents a new conceptual framework for organising and analysing what is known about it. Jones and Lederman organise human-hand research on a continuum that ranges from activities that are essentially sensory to those with a strong motor component. They distinguish four broad categories along the continuum: tactile sensing, active haptic sensing, sensory-guided action, and non-prehensile skilled movements. These categories are used to consider critical aspects of the hand, including the sensory and motor basis of manual function, the role of different parts of the hand in perception and action, tasks the hand can perform, and the changes in manual function from birth to old age. The framework meaningfully organises a vast number of studies of hand function and identifies those areas requiring additional study. This volume is intended as a reference for researchers and clinicians in neuroscience, cognitive science, cognitive and developmental psychology, gerontology, kinesology, hand surgery and rehabilitation medicine, mechanical engineering and robotics, and computer science.