What gives us fingertip dexterity?

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Fingertip dexterity. Credit: Hand art by Brendan Holt USC
Fingertip dexterity. Credit: Hand art by Brendan Holt, USC

Quickly moving your fingertips to tap or press a surface is essential for everyday life to, say, pick up small objects, use a BlackBerry or an iPhone. But researchers at the University of Southern California say that this seemingly trivial action is the result of a complex neuro-motor-mechanical process orchestrated with precision timing by the brain, nervous system and muscles of the hand.


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