Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Efficiently Recording the Eye-Hand Coordination to Incoordination Spectrum
07:30

Efficiently Recording the Eye-Hand Coordination to Incoordination Spectrum

Published on: March 21, 2019

Mechanisms that underlie coordination in children with developmental coordination disorder

Jane Clifford O'Brien1, Harriet G Williams, Anita Bundy

  • 1University of New England, Portland, ME 04103, USA. jobrien@une.edu

Journal of Motor Behavior
|March 5, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) show slower processing of visual and vibrotactile stimuli, but faster auditory processing. This suggests sensory processing differences are key to DCD motor coordination challenges.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Motor Control

Background:

  • Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) affects motor skills.
  • Children with DCD often have difficulties processing sensory information (visual, auditory, vibrotactile).
  • Understanding sensory processing is crucial for addressing motor coordination deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate reaction time (RT) patterns in children with and without DCD.
  • To explore how age and sensory modality affect information processing in DCD.
  • To identify potential mechanisms underlying motor coordination difficulties in DCD.

Main Methods:

  • Used a compatibility-incompatibility paradigm to assess choice reaction time (RT).
  • Tested young (6-7 years) and older (9-10 years) children with and without DCD.
  • Employed visual, auditory, and vibrotactile sensory modalities.

Main Results:

  • Younger children were slower than older children across all sensory modalities.
  • Children with DCD showed slower processing for visual and vibrotactile stimuli, especially under complex mappings.
  • Children with DCD exhibited faster responses to auditory stimuli compared to unaffected children.

Conclusions:

  • Sensory processing, particularly vibrotactile, may be critical to motor coordination issues in DCD.
  • There is a developmental trajectory in visual and auditory information processing.
  • Findings highlight distinct sensory processing profiles in children with DCD.

More Related Videos

Event-related Potentials During Target-response Tasks to Study Cognitive Processes of Upper Limb Use in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy08:26

Event-related Potentials During Target-response Tasks to Study Cognitive Processes of Upper Limb Use in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Published on: January 11, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Hierarchy of Motor Control01:18

Hierarchy of Motor Control

The hierarchy of motor control refers to the different levels of organization and processing involved in controlling movement in the body. These levels range from higher cortical areas involved in planning and decision-making to lower spinal cord reflexes that respond automatically to external stimuli.
Autism Spectrum Disorder01:19

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
Conduct Disorder01:28

Conduct Disorder

Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...
Alterations in Muscle Tone ll01:12

Alterations in Muscle Tone ll

Alterations in muscle tone are common manifestations of neurological disorders and reflect dysfunction within different nervous system regions. Spasticity, paratonia, and dystonia represent distinct forms of hypertonia, each with unique mechanisms, clinical features, and diagnostic importance.CharacteristicsSpasticity happens from upper motor neuron lesions and is characterized by velocity-dependent resistance to passive movement. Clinical features include:Exaggerated deep tendon reflexesClonus...