The Influence of Hand Dimensions on Finger Flexion during Lower Paleolithic Stone Tool Use in a Comfortable Grip

  1. Fedato, Annapaola 6
  2. Silva-Gago, María 1
  3. Terradillos-Bernal, Marcos 2
  4. Alonso-Alcalde, Rodrigo 34
  5. Bruner, Emiliano 5
  1. 1 Instituto de Ciencias do Patrimonio
    info

    Instituto de Ciencias do Patrimonio

    Santiago de Compostela, España

  2. 2 Universidad Internacional Isabel I de Castilla
    info

    Universidad Internacional Isabel I de Castilla

    Burgos, España

    ROR https://ror.org/055sgt471

  3. 3 Área de Didáctica y Dinamización, Museo de la Evolución Humana, Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca nº2, 09002 Burgos, Spain
  4. 4 Universidad de Burgos
    info

    Universidad de Burgos

    Burgos, España

    ROR https://ror.org/049da5t36

  5. 5 Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales
    info

    Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02v6zg374

  6. 6 Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana
    info

    Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana

    Burgos, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01nse6g27

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Revista:
Quaternary

ISSN: 2571-550X

Ano de publicación: 2024

Volume: 7

Número: 3

Páxinas: 29

Tipo: Artigo

DOI: 10.3390/QUAT7030029 GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openAcceso aberto editor

Outras publicacións en: Quaternary

Resumo

Considering the biomechanical and cognitive aspects involved in tool manipulation, hand size emerges as a critical factor. Males, on average, exhibit greater grip strength attributed to larger hand dimensions. Beyond mere physical factors, cognitive components tied to visuospatial abilities also influence stone tool use. However, the intricate relationship between hand size, grip strength, and ergonomic patterns necessitates further exploration. Here, we study the ergonomic pattern of phalanx flexion during the manipulation of Lower Paleolithic stone tools (choppers and handaxes) to understand the nuanced interplay between hand dimensions and grasping behaviors in Lower Paleolithic stone tool use. The static hand posture during the comfortable grasping of each tool is measured using a motion capture hand glove. Flexions are measured at the metacarpophalangeal joint, the proximal interphalangeal joint and the distal interphalangeal joint of each finger. Our investigation into Lower Paleolithic stone tool manipulation reveals gender-based differences in phalanx flexion, with hand dimensions showing correlation only in pooled samples. However, these associations diminish when analyzing males and females separately. This study suggests a minimal link between hand size and grasping behavior within our sample, hinting at the influence of cognitive, behavioral, and motor factors. Exploring lifestyle and psychometric profiles could provide further insights. In the context of early human technology, our results prompt considerations on the evolution of the hand-tool interaction system, linking our tool-dependent culture to our phylogenetic history.

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Información de financiamento

Financiadores

  • Spanish Government
    • PGC2018-093925-B-C31/32
  • Junta de Castilla y León
    • EDU/574/2018
  • Italian Institute of Anthropology

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