Developmental change of neurocognitive motor behavior in a continuous performance test with different interstimulus
Shinji Okazaki1, Miyuki Hosokawa, Yuki Kawakubo
1Institute of Disability Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan. sokazaki@human.tsukuba.ac.jp
Summary
This study shows how children
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Motor control development in children is crucial for cognitive function.
- Understanding neurocognitive processes in motor execution and inhibition is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate neurocognitive mechanisms of motor control in children using event-related potentials.
- Examine motor execution and inhibition processes during a cued continuous performance test.
- Analyze the impact of varying interstimulus intervals (ISIs) on these processes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a cued continuous performance test (CPT) with three interstimulus intervals (800 ms, 1500 ms, 3000 ms).
- Recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) in 28 children (aged 9, 11, 13) and 10 adults.
- Assessed behavioral responses (reaction time) and electrophysiological data (P3, P2/N2 components).
Main Results:
- Interstimulus intervals affected reaction times in all participants.
- Adults showed distinct P3 distributions for target (centro-parietal) versus No-go stimuli (centro-parietal).
- Younger children (9 years) exhibited centro-frontal P3 distribution for No-go stimuli, with P2/N2 components suggesting developing inhibition. This distribution shifted anteriorly with age.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral development in motor control relates to stimulus processing automatization.
- Efficient motor control in children involves the maturation of anterior inhibitory processes alongside posterior executive functions.
- Longer interstimulus intervals may enhance the neural correlates of motor inhibition in developing brains.
