Mine cannot move independantly at the joint's as demonstrated by grasping\closing. Yours can do this?
On my hands, if I close the pnky, the ringer finger closes with it, the middle finger only slightly, but the index finger does't close at all. Some people have trained their hands so that they can move each finger individually.
They can. But generally there is no reason for them to do this. Why would we want to move the pinky independently, little weak thing that only has use in completing and making a little more complex our grasp, for example. But if you want to you can learn to separate the movements. And there are probably people who can do this without training and there are probably professions, dissappearing ones no doubt, where they work with small things and the skill just came with the job.
Play an instrument, and you'll need that skill. If you play it well, that is. Btw; try going from "westside" to "spock" operating both hands.. contrastingly.
I'm a musician so I've built up more independent motion in my fingers than most people. The musculature and nerve control is there, it's just that most people don't develop it because they don't have any need for it. I can give "the finger" with my ring finger, but only on my right hand. I can slowly move my left hand into that position and hold it comfortably, but I have to work into it through some counterintuitive intermediate positions, showing that it's a matter of training more than physical limitation. I don't have any problem with moving my ring finger and middle finger independently on either hand. I can give "the Vulcan finger," but only with my right hand. Hold your hand flat with all fingers flush, separate the middle finger from the ring finger into the "live long and prosper" salute, then pull down the index finger and pinkie while leaving the other two extended. If I haven't practiced it in a while, when I pull my pinkie down my ring finger tries to follow; I have to do it very consciously. It's all habit and learned coordination, not any natural limits.
With a little practice and concentration, you can do it ...most anyone can. It's just not something that necessary or needed much, so we've just not adapted to doing it. Baron Max
Like a flute or a recorder, yes. And the piano, of course. String instruments would only train one hand this much. And drums - barely. Also - learning to type properly.
If you deliberately tense your little finger and hold it still, you should be able to move your ring finger independently, and vice versa. Then again I've played the guitar since I was 14 so probably have more independent motion, like Fraggle Rocker...
I played the violin, so I can only move my left handed fingers independently, whereas I have more trouble moving each finger independently on my right hand. [Renrue]
I play keyboard, and I still do finger exercises that were written centuries ago by a dude called Liszt (and another dude Schubert)... (Bach maybe had twelve fingers, at least that's what I think sometimes)
They do, which is why practice can only help to a small degree. I played the violin for many years, and my left hand fingers are much more dexterous than my right hand fingers, but my pinky and ring finger still move together. It's a mechanical obstruction, and you can't just "practice away" a tendon. I have heard anecdotal tales of a musician (a violinist if I remember correctly) who had surgery to split the tendon to try to gain more facility in his fingers. It didn't work, and he ended up with a partially-functioning hand, and a ruined career. I don't know if this is a true story, or who it was or anything...