Age differences in integration of components of a motor task

To study effects of practice on the ability of 6-, 11-, and 18-yr.-old Ss to integrate the components of the Rho task 3 groups of 50 boys performed 30 consecutive trials. (a) With practice all age groups improved in total movement time; (b) 11-yr.-old Ss attained the 18-yr.-olds' level of performance in both components, initial differences existing only the linear component; (c) relative to the 18-yr.-old Ss, the 6-yr.-olds achieved proportionally less improvement in the linear component; (d) unlike 11- and 18-yr.-old Ss, the 6-yr.-olds evidenced increasing specificity of task components across trials. Unlike the two older age groups, the 6-yr.-old Ss were unable to achieve a high degree of integration of task components. The findings were discussed in light of Pascual-Leone's neo-Piagetian model of learning and development.