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Binocular vision and prehension in middle childhood
Simon J Watt1, Mark F Bradshaw, Tanya J Clarke
1Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK.
Neuropsychologia
|February 1, 2003
Summary
Binocular vision plays a role in adult prehension, but children aged 5-11 years rely less on these cues for reaching and grasping. Their control of movement, particularly grip aperture, is not significantly impacted by monocular vision.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
Background:
- Binocular cues are crucial for adult prehension (reaching and grasping).
- Understanding the developmental trajectory of binocular vision's role in motor control is important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of binocular vision in prehension control in middle childhood.
- To compare how children of different ages (5-6 and 10-11 years) utilize binocular cues during reaching and grasping tasks.
Main Methods:
- Participants (14 children aged 5-6, 16 aged 10-11) performed reaching and grasping tasks.
- Tasks involved objects of varying sizes and distances under binocular and monocular viewing conditions.
- Kinematic data, including wrist velocity and grip aperture, were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Many kinematic indices of reaching were unaffected by the removal of binocular vision in children.
- Older children (10-11 years) increased final approach time under monocular vision, similar to adults.
- Peak wrist velocities and grip apertures remained unaffected by viewing condition and scaled with object properties.
Conclusions:
- The use of binocular cues for prehensile movement control appears immature even in 10-11-year-old children.
- Motor control strategies for prehension develop throughout childhood, with reliance on binocular information changing over time.